A kinetic ecological approach to beauty perception: a perspective review
on the case of symmetry and the golden ratio
Abstract
In the 1970s, the psychologist J.J. Gibson developed an “ecological
approach to visual perception”, suggesting that humans perceive the
environment exploiting environmental affordances - surrounding invariant
features that define possible individuals-object interactions - without
top-down mediation of cognitive processes. Shepard extended this
approach, suggesting that common environmental features are internalized
defining perceptual constraints, such as the circadian rhythm,
three-dimensional space, and gravity. In this perspective review, we
apply these concepts to neuroaesthetics and beauty perception,
discussing how the internalization of in-variants may influence our
perception of beauty. Within this framework, special emphasis was placed
on symmetry and golden ratio, typically considered as two benchmarks for
beauty, and two geometrical features that can be considered as
environmental affordances. Moreover, we suggest that kinetic aspects
play a role in beauty perception of these proportions, particularly by
the internal model of gravity.