“As with other dimensions of everyday experience, what we find aesthetically pleasing is not random but stems from our evolutionary history,” says Eric Haseltine, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and the author of Long Fuse, Big Bang.
“Just as our innate preference for sweet, calorie-rich food helped our ancestors survive in environments where food was scarce, our preferences for certain visual stimuli reflect the survival imperatives that confronted our ancestors.”
#4 My Best Boy Watching Beautifully Backlit Highland Cows During A Stunning Sunset
Consider toxic substances, such as those in rotting meat or tainted water. Although our noses are the primary defenders against such threats, our eyes also play a role.
“Rotting meat, moldy bread, and dirty water usually have a distinct, ‘ugly’ look,” says Haseltine. “According to ecological valence theory, we generally prefer colors, such as green, that are associated with non-toxic substances and dislike those, such as brown, that are associated with objectionable substances.”
“Similarly, color combinations that occur in welcoming environments—such as sky blue and light brown tree bark in forests—‘match,’ whereas color combinations that do not occur naturally, ‘clash,’” the neuroscientist adds.
It makes sense that visual signals of toxins repel us and that signs of health attract us, but why do we like ocean views and sweeping vistas of mountains and forests?
“From a survival standpoint, oceans are an abundant source of food and are often fed by rivers of fresh water. Bodies of water also offer unrestricted sightlines, preventing nasty surprises, according to the ‘Refuge theory’ of environmental preference,” Haseltine explains.
“The Savanah and Park theories of environmental preference echo the advantages of wide-open spaces for predator avoidance on the one hand, and for visibility of food on the other, especially when such spaces are rich in green vegetation, signifying abundant food and water.”
#11 A Tusker Elephant And Mount Kilimanjaro
As you can see from the pictures, even cities can feel calming. Just not all, of course.
Imagine two urban environments. One is dense, noisy, and dominated by concrete, traffic, signage, and visual clutter, with very little greenery. The other has open skies, abundant vegetation, a river, and a more spacious, harmonious layout.
According to the principle of biophilia (our attraction to nature), people prefer to live and work in the second environment.
But Haseltine claims the appeal of the second setting goes beyond vegetation and open sky. That’s because the first environment feels cluttered and cacophonous, while the second feels open and coherent, with scenic elements and color combinations commonly found in nature.
#16 Frozen Lake In Front Of A Mountain
Instead of an environment that feels cluttered and cacophonous, we want something that’s open and coherent, preferably with scenic elements and color combinations commonly found in nature. Visually, it feels more restful. And the term “restful” is important because it corresponds to a lower cognitive workload: we spend less time and energy filtering important information from distractions.
Cognitive psychologists describe this ease of processing as “perceptual fluency.” People generally prefer environments with high perceptual fluency—simpler, more coherent settings—over environments that are visually complex and mentally taxing.
#18 1 Week In Socotra, Yemen. This Place Has Been On The Top Of My Bucket List For Over 15 Years. I Was Fortunate To Make The Dream A Reality
Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but “Humans are, above all, visual animals: animals that evolved in primordial environments that shape who we are today,” Haseltine says. And thinking about why we like to look at certain things helps us understand where we live, the value of our house, the clothes we wear, and so on.
However, if you want to go further, check out these 30 Breathtaking Images That Offer A Glimpse Into The Mysteries Of The Universe.