Differences in reactions to paintings by male and female college students
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2000
Publication Source
Perceptual and Motor Skills
Abstract
38 male and 55 female college students rated digitized color facsimiles of 40 paintings that varied in artistic period (Renaissance, Rococo, Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, 20th Century) and subject matter (portrait, landscape, still life, behavior depiction) on 12 7-point semantic differential scales, e.g., simple–complex. Women judged the content of Rococo and Impressionist paintings as more pleasing than did men and Impressionist paintings evoked greater feelings of pleasure and relaxation among women than among men. In addition, paintings that depicted behaviors evoked more pleasure and alertness among women than among men. The results were interpreted in terms of underlying differences between men and women in perceptual style and emotional sensitivity.
Inclusive pages
251-258
Volume
91
Issue
1
Peer Reviewed
yes
Keywords
Experimental Aesthetics, Gender Differences
eCommons Citation
Polzella, Donald J., "Differences in reactions to paintings by male and female college students" (2000). Psychology Faculty Publications. 101.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/psy_fac_pub/101
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