FACTORS OF ESTHETIC PREFERENCE, SPACE AND FORMS

Abstract

Why does the the man feel more comfortable in some surroundings than in some other and what is there in the surroundings and in a the man that causes that state of his  spirit? It is obvious that one`s reactions to surroundings are reflexive and uncontrolled, yet they happen according to certain patterns. To adjust to his natural surroundings as much as he can, during evolution the the man developed mechanisms (intuitive reactions) that made it possible for him to react to the changes in his environment much faster and more effectively, which was of the key importance for survival. By developing intuitive reactions to surroundings, the the man acquired a special apparatus through which he sees much more in his surroundings than he is aware. Esthetic reactions and esthetic preferences make a part of that apparatus and they have an adaptive role. Thanks to rewarding certain behaviors with comfortable feelings, elements and physical characteristics (compositions, relationships) useful for survival that the man notices in his surrounding have become beautiful to him. Evolutionary psychology, psychology, esthetics and neuroesthetics all research why and how the the man reacts to certain physical characteristics of the surroundings. The goal of this research is to check if the the man notices elements and relations from natural surroundings in architectural space, since evolution “taught” him that he needs them for survival. It also aims to check how the the man reacts to the preferred shapes, relations, and compositions from natural surroundings when they are found in architectural space and to check factors that influence esthetic preferences. Discoveries of esthetic reactions, esthetic preference and evolutionary base of those reactions can be applied in architecture in order to create space and shapes that are customized for the the man.