What type of Personality Traits Influence Artistic Preferences? A Quantitative Approach | [Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences • 2025]

Author(s):

1. Gbenusola Akinwale: Department of Political Studies & International Relations

2. Victor Ojakorotu: Department of Political Studies & International Relations

Abstract:

Arts is offering several benefits to the present generation, particularly the adults, and it is imperative to understand what types of art resonate with different personality traits. The present study examined individual differences in artistic preferences in a sample of 342 participants (62%women and 38%men), aged 16-60years. Participants completed a Big Five personality inventory and provided preference ratings for 8 different paintings corresponding to Renaissance, Impressionism, and African visual art, which loaded onto a latent factor of overall art preferences. As expected, the personality trait openness to experience was the strongest and only consistent personality correlate of artistic preferences, affecting both overall and specific preferences, as well as visits to art events, galleries, and artistic (rather than scientific) selfperception. Overall preferences were also positively influenced by age and visits to art galleries, and to a lesser degree, by artistic selfperception and conscientiousness (negatively). As for specific styles, after overall preferences were accounted for, more agreeable, more conscientious, and less open individuals reported higher preference levels for impressionist, younger, and more extraverted participants showed higher levels of preference for pop art. The study concluded that the enduring presence of art in human history suggests that its connection to humanity is deeper than merely an arbitrary medley of random aesthetic inclinations.

Page(s): 1028-1041

DOI: 10.57239/PJLSS-2025-23.2.00231

Published: Journal: Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, Volume: 23, Issue: 2, Year: 2025

Keywords:

Personality traits , Personality Inventory , Aesthetic , Art Preferences

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