Intensity, Dissonance, and Preference for Pure Tones

Abstract

An experiment on preference for pure tone pairs varying in intensity and dissonance was conducted in order to test predictions derived from Berlyne's theory of aesthetic preference. According to the theory, preference is an inverted-U function of arousal potential; the determinants of arousal potential are summed, so that an increase in the amount of one determinant leads to a decrease in the maximally preferred level of other determinants; and collative properties, such as dissonance, are the most important predictors of preference. The experiment supported none of these predictions. Preference was related to intensity and dissonance by monotonic or U-shaped functions. The trade-off between intensity and dissonance was not present. Intensity rather than dissonance was the most important determinant of preference. As compared with intensity, the effect of dissonance on preference was negligible. The results are explained in terms of a connectionist theory of aesthetic preference.