Personality Correlates of Aesthetic Preferences for Art, Architecture, and Music

Abstract

The current study investigated the relationship between aesthetic preferences and the Big-Five personality dimensions across the three domains of art, architecture, and music. A five-factor classification of artistic styles was devised which included the Sophisticated, Contemporary, Intense, Mellow, and Unpretentious factors. Participants were required to provide ratings for aesthetic stimuli representing these factors, as well as complete the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) inventory. As was predicted, aesthetic preferences did vary as a function of personality, with Openness to Experience being, as usual, the best predictor. Preferences were consistent across the domains of art and architecture, but were inconsistent with some artistic styles in the music domain. Gender, ethnicity, and artistic experience were also found to exert some influence on aesthetic preferences. Implications, limitations, and future research suggestions are discussed.