Symmetry and Meaningfulness in the Spotlight of Expertness

Empirical aesthetics focuses on understanding how perceptual features shape aesthetic preferences, with symmetry being a key aspect. However, recent studies show variation in symmetry preference across samples and stimuli. Our study aims to explore the boundaries of symmetry preference, particularly in relation to meaning, prototypicality and expertise in visual arts. With our stimuli we can test the comparative dominance of these features. In our forced-choice preference task (N = 196), we manipulated images for symmetry, meaning, and prototypicality. Findings reveal that symmetry preference is only remarkable in meaningless images among non-experts. Instead, meaningfulness emerged as a significant factor influencing their aesthetic preferences. Experts show no distinct preference for symmetry or meaningfulness. However, prototypicality is favoured by both groups in meaningful stimuli, regardless of symmetry. These results highlight the dominance of meaning in aesthetic experience and underscore the complex interplay between symmetry, meaning, and expertise in visual arts.