SENSATION SEEKING AND REACTIONS TO NATURE PAINTINGS

Two studies were done comparing the preferences of high and low sensation seekers for nature paintings representing different styles. The paintings had been previously rated for qualities of complexity and tension. Factor analyses established five stylistic categories among the paintings. In both studies high sensation seekers had a relatively greater liking for high tension paintings whereas the lows had a relatively greater liking for low tension paintings. In both studies high sensation seekers had a relatively greater liking for expressionist style paintings, and in the second study the lows had a greater preference for the realistic, low tension pastoral scenes than the high sensation seekers. Men liked complex, high tension, realistic paintings more than women did. Complexity did not interact with personality, but was subordinate to other qualities of the paintings. High sensation seekers like tension evoking paintings and are more tolerant of ambiguity in style than low sensation seekers.