Appraisal Theory - Art

emotions.

Silvia, P. J. (2005). Cognitive appraisals and interest in visual art: Exploring an appraisal theory of aesthetic emotions. Empirical Studies of the Arts, 23, 119-133.

Abstract: Since Berlyne‘s seminal research, the study of experimental aesthetics has examined interest as a response to art. The present research explores the implications of appraisal theories of emotion for the study of interest as an emotion relevant to aesthetics. Participants viewed pictures of modern experimental visual art and rated each picture for interest and for appraisals of complexity and comprehensibility. Multilevel modeling assessed the within-person effects of appraisals on interest. As predicted by appraisal theories, both appraisals significantly and strongly predicted interest at the within-person level. The within-person relationships were not moderated by individual-differences relevant to interest in art (e.g., trait curiosity). Theories of ―aesthetic response‖ should capitalize on modern theories and findings in emotion psychology.

The present research examined interest in visual art from the perspective of appraisal theories of emotions. Appraisal theories view interest as an emotion, not as a judgment (Aitken, 1974) or a stimulus property (Hidi & Berndorff, 1998). Thus, as with all emotions, interest is brought about by a distinct pattern of appraisals (Ellsworth &Smith, 1988; Silvia, 2005). The two appraisals central to interest—an appraisal of novelty– complexity, and an appraisal of coping potential—clearly predicted interest in visual art. Within-person analyses showed that people found the visual images more interesting as the images were appraised as more complex and as more comprehensible. These relationships were strong and highly significant. Moreover, every person in the sample showed positive relationships between appraisals and interest, indicating invariance in the directional effect of appraisals.