Aesthetics Based On Psychology: Understanding Our Preferences

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why those around you may like certain aesthetics or designs? In general terms, there are two main factors that affect someone’s preferred aesthetic: outer appearance and personal experiences. These could include beauty, skill, style and expression, originality, emotion, or message.

The Impact of Appearances

It would make sense to think that our preferred designs would be heavily influenced by appearances, such as colors, textures, styles, size, and shape. Although it does make an impact, it is not what someone’s aesthetic is wholly based on. According to Psychology Today, perceived beauty can be very ambiguous, unreliable, and, in some cases, the cause of disagreement. For example, if you like everything pastel and light-colored while your roommate prefers something with a darker color scheme, then there may be inevitable discrepancies within your dorm design. However, throughout the school year, as your relationship gradually strengthens, you will become more accustomed to each others’ living habits and preferred styles as well. You may find that each others’ aesthetic does not seem to be as unpleasant as you originally thought. In cases like these, psychologists say that it is likely for the person themself to not even realize how their preference has changed.

The Impact of Experiences 

The second factor of determining one’s aesthetic, which can influence people to switch their preferred style based on past experience, is personal connections. Personal connections can convey many aspects of one’s life. For instance, if you eat ice cream every time you feel happy, then each time you see this soft serve, no matter how you feel, happiness would rise as the dominant emotion. That works the same with aesthetics and the brain’s preference; after numerous warm memories with your roommate, you would most likely come to like their aesthetic almost as much as you like their personality.

The two main factors that determine one’s aesthetic are appearance and personal connections. As mentioned, appearances are what most people believe to be the only factor, but they are simply the outer shell to our preferences. One will be more likely to change their aesthetic based on past experiences and the associated emotions rather than what is seen on the surface. There are still many aspects of how the human brain interacts with our emotions to make us believe in what our “preferred aesthetic” is. You may realize that your view on aesthetics is only beginning to blossom.