Visual Beauty Assessment Scale: Psychometric Validation of Italian and English Versions

Since ancient times, philosophers and researchers have attempted to define beauty. In recent years, psychologists have distinguished between subjective and objective beauty, as well as between emotional and cognitive dimensions. However, a psychometrically validated tool for assessing beauty is still lacking. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate the Visual Beauty Assessment Scale (Vi-BAS). Across three experiments, 18 items were generated based on participants' definition of beauty (Experiment 1), and their validity and reliability were assessed in Italian native speakers (Experiment 2) and English native speakers (Experiment 3). Exploratory factorial analysis (EFA) was conducted in Experiment 2 to identify latent variables, which were confirmed in Experiment 3. Results identified four latent variables of beauty-subjective, objective, emotional, and cognitive-each represented in the Vi-BAS by two valid and reliable items, for a total of eight items. An average Vi-BAS score was also validated. This study introduces a comprehensive scale for assessing different dimensions of beauty, demonstrating validity and reliability both in Italian and English.