Experimental aesthetics

The experimental aesthetics is a branch of psychology. It was founded by Gustav Theodor Fechner in the 19th century. Aesthetics is from Fechner's point of view, experienced value empirically comprehensible taking into account personal and property characteristics. The experimental aesthetics is thus characterized by a subject - oriented, inductive approach. It defines itself as a part of empirical aesthetics and examines theory-based causal hypotheses by means of experiments.

The experimental aesthetics, making it the second oldest area of ​​research in psychology; older is only the psychophysics. In his central work " pre- aesthetic " Fechner presents his empirical approach extensively and in detail dar.

Modern approaches of experimental aesthetics mostly come from cognitive psychology or neuroscience (neuro- aesthetics). The experimental aesthetics is strongly oriented science.

Methodology

Central is in experimental aesthetics, the analysis of individual experience and behavior based on experimental methods. Here, the perception of works of art, music or modern items such as websites or other IT products is studied in particular. Data can be examined and analyzed at three levels:

It is hard to forgive an absolute value for the aesthetics of an object; but may well be made, eg, statements like many of the subjects classify an object as beautiful or as many prefer this compared to other objects.

Depending on the approach used in the experimental aesthetics of a number of different methods are used, for example, paired comparisons, rank order methods, Likert scales and semantic differentials, manufacturing methods, statistical group comparisons, response time measurements, and also more complex methods such as eye tracking, electroencephalography or functional magnetic resonance imaging.