Applying the Construction-Integration Framework to Aesthetic Responses to Representational Artworks

Abstract

Kintsch's (1988) construction-integration (CI) framework was applied to aesthetic responses to artwork. Art novices in 3 studies viewed and rated representational artworks on aesthetic responses including enjoyment, number of experienced thoughts, and achieved understanding. Parameters based on the CI framework, as well as variables assessing surface representation, were computed for each artwork and were entered in multiple regression equations predicting the ratings. In Study 1, the number of activated concepts (a measure of construction) and the average activation level of the concepts (a measure of integration) predicted the aesthetic ratings. In Study 2, the number of concepts predicted the ratings in a brief viewing time condition but not in a long viewing time condition, when construction would have been completed. In that study, the activation level of the concepts predicted the ratings in both brief and long viewing time conditions. In Study 3, the CI framework predicted emotional but not cognitive-based responses. The results and the CI framework are discussed in the context of models of aesthetic processing.

Notes

*p < .05.

**p < .01.

*p < .05.

**p < .01.

¹Some researchers have pointed out that the relation between arousal potential and preference is ambiguous and the assumption that requires two stimuli to be equally preferred given equal arousal potentials to be dubious (Martindale, 1984).