Commentary on Corradi et al.’s (2019) new conception of aesthetic sensitivity: Is the ability conception dead?

Nils Myszkowski, Pinar Çelik and Martin Storme
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Nils Myszkowski: Department of Psychology, Pace University
Pinar Çelik: Department of Human Resources, Organization and Labor Economics

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Abstract: Corradi et al. (British Journal of Psychology, 2019) argue that their new conception of visual aesthetic sensitivity (as responsiveness to aesthetic features in one's preferences) presents several advantages in comparison with the current ability view of aesthetic sensitivity, usually defined as the ability to judge aesthetic stimuli in accordance with standards (The Journal of Psychology, 1964, 57 and 49). Although the measure they propose is interesting and presents advances to the field, we point to important issues. Notably, the authors conveniently base their comparison between the two conceptions on psychometric double standards, discard a century of research on aesthetic sensitivity by focusing on Eysenck's speculations, and disguise an extension of already existing aesthetic preference tests (e.g., The Journal of Psychology, 1952, 33 and 199; Empirical Studies of the Arts, 2005, 23 and 165) as a redefinition of aesthetic sensitivity. We conclude that both aesthetic preference and aesthetic sensitivity research are legitimate objects of study, that the authors present interesting ideas to further the study of aesthetic preferences, but that their approach is not new and that its proposed renaming only adds confusion to the field.

Date: 2020-11
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Published in British Journal of Psychology, 2020, 111 (4), pp.659-662. ⟨10.1111/bjop.12440⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03001553

DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12440

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