The present study investigated the role of visual exploration of artworks in relation to personal traits and aesthetic responses during a visit to the TATE Liverpool gallery. Specifically, the study tested whether visual exploration mediated the influence of individual differences in personality and cognitive style on aesthetic responses. Fifty-six visitors to the gallery viewed seven artworks while their eye movements were recorded. Participants rated their aesthetic response to the artworks and wrote their thoughts and impressions about each artwork. Written reports were analyzed in terms of word count and frequency of use of aesthetic descriptors. Participants completed individual difference measures, including Openness to Experience [OTE] and Need for Cognitive Closure [NFC] before viewing artworks. The results showed that (a) the duration of looking at artworks (dwell time) mediated the relationship between OTE, NFC, and word count as well as the frequency of use of aesthetic descriptors, and (b) the spatial distribution of fixations mediated the relationship between both OTE and NFC and the number of words used in response to viewing artworks. The results indicate that visual exploration plays a functional role in the experience of artworks in a real gallery setting, and that visual exploration is a mechanism through which OTE and NFC influence aesthetic responses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
本研究在参观利物浦泰特美术馆（TATE Liverpool）的情境下，考察了艺术作品的视觉探索在个体特质与审美反应之间所发挥的作用。具体而言，研究旨在检验：视觉探索是否在个体的人格特征与认知风格对审美反应的影响过程中起中介作用。共有56名美术馆参观者参与本研究，他们在观看7件艺术作品时，其眼动行为被同步记录。参与者随后对作品作出审美反应评分，并书面写下自己对每件作品的想法与印象。研究进一步从词数以及审美描述词的使用频率两个方面对书面报告进行了分析。在观看作品之前，参与者还完成了若干个体差异测量，包括经验开放性（Openness to Experience, OTE）与认知闭合需要（Need for Cognitive Closure, NFC）。结果显示：（1）观看作品的注视时长（dwell time）在经验开放性、认知闭合需要与书面反应词数及审美描述词使用频率之间起中介作用；（2）注视点的空间分布在经验开放性、认知闭合需要与观看作品后所使用词语数量之间同样起中介作用。
上述结果表明，在真实美术馆情境中，视觉探索在艺术体验过程中具有功能性作用，并且是经验开放性与认知闭合需要影响审美反应的重要机制。
