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Published on: March 27, 2019
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Relations between perceived affect and liking for melodies and visual designs
Ana Clemente1, Anders Friberg2, André Holzapfel3
1Human Evolution and Cognition Research Group, University of the Balearic Islands.
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|October 13, 2022
Summary
Hedonic value, or liking, is mainly derived from sensory information specific to the domain, with the need for cognition (NFC) influencing how individuals process this information.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Psychology
- Neuroaesthetics
Background:
- Sensory valuation assigns hedonic value to stimuli based on sensory input, personal, and contextual factors.
- Hedonic values, like liking, are affective states that drive behavior, but their relationship with affect is not fully understood.
- Investigating the link between stimulus features, perceived affect, and liking is crucial for understanding sensory valuation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between stimulus features, perceived affect (valence, arousal), and liking across different sensory domains (visual, auditory).
- To examine individual differences in aesthetic and affective sensitivities.
- To determine the influence of individual traits, such as need for cognition (NFC) and need for emotion, on hedonic and affective judgments.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-eight participants rated liking, valence, and arousal for visual designs and melodies varying in specific features.
- Participants completed questionnaires assessing need for cognition and need for emotion.
- Statistical analyses examined group-level relations, individual sensitivities, and trait influences.
Main Results:
- Liking showed domain-specific responses to stimulus features.
- A linear relationship was found between valence and liking.
- Arousal and liking followed an inverted-U model, and musical aesthetic sensitivities displayed a binary profile.
- Need for cognition (NFC) modulated the use of stimulus properties in hedonic and affective judgments.
Conclusions:
- Hedonic value is primarily computed from domain-specific sensory information.
- Individual differences, particularly NFC, play a role in moderating hedonic and affective judgments.
- Findings contribute to understanding the complex interplay between sensory perception, affect, and cognition.
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