Aesthetic emotion has long been a subject of fascination within the scientific community. In recent years, research has uncovered the neurological and psychological processes associated with aesthetic experiences, providing insight into the powerful influence of emotions on our perception of beauty. This article will examine the current understanding of aesthetic emotion, its relationship to art and design, and the implications for the creative process.
Aesthetic emotion can be defined as the emotional response elicited by an aesthetic stimulus. This can include anything from a painting or piece of music to an architectural structure or piece of furniture. Research suggests that aesthetic emotion is not simply a cognitive response to an external stimulus, but rather is an emotional reaction generated from within the individual. This is due to the fact that aesthetic emotion is associated with the activation of brain regions associated with emotion and reward processing (Kant, 1790; Panksepp, 1998).
Studies have found that aesthetic emotion activates the same regions of the brain associated with emotional processing, such as the ventral striatum, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex (Vartanian & Skov, 2014). These regions are involved in the processing and interpretation of emotion, as well as the generation of reward responses. This suggests that aesthetic emotion elicits a reward response in the brain, indicating its importance in our appreciation of beauty.
The presence of aesthetic emotion has also been observed in the study of art and design. Research has suggested that aesthetic emotion plays a role in the creative process, providing the impetus for creative expression (Berlyne, 1971). It is thought that aesthetic emotion helps to motivate and inspire the creative process, allowing the individual to explore and experiment with ideas.
Finally, the implications of aesthetic emotion for the creative process are significant. By understanding the neurological and psychological processes associated with aesthetic emotion, designers and artists can gain insight into how to evoke powerful emotional responses in their work. This can help to create powerful experiences that stimulate viewers and evoke meaningful reactions.
In conclusion, research into aesthetic emotion has provided insight into the powerful influence of emotions on our perception of beauty. By understanding the neurological and psychological processes associated with aesthetic emotion, designers and artists can gain insight into how to evoke powerful emotional responses in their work. This understanding can help to create powerful experiences that stimulate viewers and evoke meaningful reactions.
References
Berlyne, D. E. (1971). Aesthetics and psychobiology. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Kant, I. (1790). Critique of judgment. New York: Oxford University Press.
Panksepp, J. (1998). Affective neuroscience: The foundations of human and animal emotions. New York: Oxford University Press.
Vartanian, O., & Skov, M. (2014). Neural bases of aesthetic evaluation. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 18(5), 264-272.