PERSONALITY & AESTHETIC PREFERENCES IN VISUAL ART
No society or culture has ever existed without some form of art - but did you know, that character traits play a significant role in determining one's aesthetic preferences? Research shows that there are significant correlations between personality traits and individual's taste in art. Certain characteristics influence the way one perceives art, even though the subjective taste is also influenced by the surrounding cultural and social context, constantly changing and developing as a response to personal experiences.
THE BIG FIVE
The Big Five Personality Theory is a widely accepted framework in psychology that introduces five broad dimensions of personality: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. These dimensions are thought to explain most of the traits that make up a human personality. Let's analyze some examples of how the theory manifests as visual art preferences.
OPENNESS TO EXPERIENCE
Openness to experience reflects a person's imagination, creativity, and willingness to try new things. People high in openness tend to engage in adventurous and unconventional behavior, while those low in openness are often more traditional and resistant to change.
A study conducted by Rentfrow and Gosling (2003) found that people with higher levels of openness to experience tend to prefer abstract and novel forms of art, while individuals with lower levels of openness tend to prefer more traditional and representational art forms. This finding is consistent with the idea that people with higher openness tend to be more creative and curious, while individuals with lower openness tend to be more practical and traditional.
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
Conscientiousness reflects a person's tendency to be reliable, responsible, and self-disciplined. People high in conscientiousness tend to be more organized and goal-oriented, while those low in conscientiousness may be more impulsive and lack self-control.
In terms of visual art, conscientious individuals tend to prefer representational or realistic art that is carefully and meticulously executed, such as classic art. On the contrary, those low in conscientiousness tend to prefer unconventional art. Imagine a highly conscientious person enjoying the detailed realism in a Vermeer painting, while someone lower in this trait may find allure in the abstract work of Kandinsky.
Wassily Kandinsky - Quadrat im Nebel
EXTRAVERSION
Extraversion reflects a person's level of sociability, assertiveness, and outgoingness. People who score high in this trait tend to be talkative and energized by social interaction.
A 2001 study by Furnham and Walker suggests that extraverted individuals favor bold, dynamic, and attention-capturing art, such as abstract expressionism and pop art. In contrast, those lower in extraversion – often more reserved and introspective – might resonate with the subtler nuances of impressionism and realism. The findings are consistent with the idea that extraverts tend to seek out stimulation and excitement, while introverts tend to prefer quiet and contemplative experiences.
AGREEABLENESS
Agreeableness refers to a person's tendency to be cooperative, empathetic, and caring. People high in agreeableness tend to be more compassionate and understanding, while those low in agreeableness may be more competitive and argumentative.
Agreeable people are more likely to be drawn to art that serene and pleasing to the eye - such as landscapes or impressionist works. On the contrary, less agreeable individuals may prefer provocative art like political commentary (Chamorro-Premuzic & Reichenbacher, 2010).), which relates to the concept of agreeable individuals tending to prioritize social harmony and positivity, while less agreeable individuals are generally more critical and skeptical.
NEUROTICISM
Neuroticism refers to a person's tendency to experience negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, and sadness. Scoring high in neuroticism may manifest as a tendency to be more irritable and insecure while exhibiting increased creativity and empathy.
Research has shown that people with higher levels of neuroticism tend to prefer art that is intense and emotionally evocative, such as expressionism and surrealism (Rentfrow & Gosling, 2006). This preference mirrors their heightened sensitivity to emotions
CONCLUSION
Character traits play an important role in shaping aesthetic taste, even though individual preferences are shaped by a range of factors.
Research has also shown that certain emotions and moods can influence aesthetic taste - for example, positive mood tends to translate as preferring bright and colorful art, while being in a negative mood tends to manifest as preferring dark and somber art.
Understanding how personality can determine aesthetic preferences can help us feel more in tune with ourselves and better understand the art we encounter.
Does your taste resonate with your personality? Take The Big Five Personality Test here.
REFERENCES
Chamorro-Premuzic, T., & Reichenbacher, L. (2010). Whoart thou? Personality predictors of artistic preferences in a large UK sample: the importance of openness
Furnham, A., & Walker, J. (2001). The influence of personality traits, previous experience of art, and demographic variables on artistic preferences. Personality and Individual Differences, 31(6), 997–1017.
Rentfrow, P.J., & Gosling, S.D. (2003). The do re mi's of everyday life: the structure and personality correlates of music preferences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(6), 1236-1256.
Rentfrow, P.J., & Gosling, S.D. (2006). Message in a ballad: the role of music preferences in interpersonal perception. Psychological Science, 17(3), 236-242.
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