Contrast Effects and Social Desirability in Art Appreciation

Abstract

In a number of experiments the effects of presenting different categories of art in contrasting order were explored. In the first experiment traditional and abstract paintings and Chinese calligraphy were used as stimuli, each type was contrasted with the other two, which led to shifts in appreciation as well as in perceived complexity. Two more experiments were performed. In one of these experiments fragments of traditional and modern classical music were presented. The same effect was found as when traditional and abstract paintings were contrasted: enhancement of the appreciation of traditional music but no decrease in the appreciation of modern music. It seems that when art is concerned only positive contrast effects are obtained. A possible explanation could be that it is considered socially undesirable to admit a lesser appreciation of modern than of traditional art. To test this hypothesis, socially ‘neutral’ stimuli, Chinese ideographs, differing in aesthetic quality, were contrasted. This yielded the expected positive as well as negative effects.