Aesthetic preference is related to organized complexity

Abstract

There is extensive evidence today linking exposure to natural environments to favorable changes in mental and even physical health. There is also a growing body of work indicating that there are specific geometric properties of natural scenes that mediate these effects, and that these properties can also be found in artificial structures like buildings, especially those designed before the emergence of modernism. These geometries are also associated with aesthetic preference-we seem to like what is good for us. Here, using a questionnaire-based survey, we have tried to elucidate some of the parameters that play a role in formulating a preference for one form over the other. The images used were nature scenes from the Alpine landscape with various manipulations to alter their complexity, or with additions of computer graphics or various buildings. In all cases, the presence of a natural scaling hierarchy and of either fractal graphics or of ornate, non-local pre-modern buildings was always preferable to the alternative. We discuss these findings under the light of recent evidence in the field and conclude that they support the idea of the existence of a preference of our perceptive system for certain types of visual organization.

Fig 1. Linear and fractal additions to a valley.

Percentages represent the preferences and the asterisk indicates a statistically significant difference in overall preference (image adapted from Schirpke et al, 2013, https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/5/3/1080/htm, CC BY 3.0 license).

Fig 2. Computer graphics added to a village view.

Percentages represent the preferences and the asterisk indicates a statistically significant difference in overall preference from all other images (image adapted from Schirpke et al, 2013, https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/5/3/1080/htm, CC BY 3.0 license; graphs in 2c, 2d reprinted from http://barlior.com/fractals/fractals.htm under a CC BY license, with permission from Lior P Bar, original copyright 2003).

Fig 3. Computer graphics added to a village view.

Percentages represent the preferences and the asterisk indicates a statistically significant difference in overall preference (image adapted from Schirpke et al, 2013, https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/5/3/1080/htm, CC BY 3.0 license).

Fig 4. Changes in complexity and scaling hierarchy of real objects.

Percentages represent the preferences and the asterisk indicates a statistically significant difference in overall preference (image by AA Lavdas).

Fig 5. Changes in complexity and scaling hierarchy of real objects.

Percentages represent the preferences (image by AA Lavdas).

Fig 6. Addition of modern and non-local traditional buildings to the Alpine landscape.

Percentages represent the preferences and the asterisk indicates a statistically significant difference in overall preference from all other images (images by AA Lavdas; building image in 6c reprinted from https://i1.wp.com/www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-showcase/files/2018/06/9800Wilshire_Photo-%C2%BCBruceDamonte_05.jpg?ssl=1 under a CC BY license, with permission from Bruce Damonte, original copyright 2014).

Fig 7. Addition of modern and non-local traditional buildings to the Alpine landscape, in their original and processed form.

Percentages represent the preferences and the asterisk indicates a statistically significant difference in overall preference from all other images (images by AA Lavdas).