The psychological processes underlying the experience of beauty

Abstract

In this paper, we would review the different psychological processes underlying the experience of beauty for visually beautiful stimuli. We examine models which may help detail the psychological processes of the experience of beauty, encompassing the emotional, motivational, and cognitive factors. These models and processes would be analysed in light of evidence stemming from neurobiological and empirical studies. These findings are incorporated and integrated to bring forth our suggestion for a new information-processing model for the experience of beauty with regard to visually beautiful stimuli. We find that the experience of beauty is an objectified, largely intrinsic, positively-valenced, highly arousing experience within which individuals perceive the stimuli as something intensely pleasant and deeply meaningful to their selves. The limitations of studies in the experience of beauty are also highlighted, and future studies recommended to increase understanding on the neural, psychological, and physiological aspects of the experience of beauty.