August 2020 PMID 32747544

An objective evaluation of the beholder's response to abstract and figurative art based on construal level theory.

Celia Durkin, Eileen Hartnett, Daphna Shohamy, Eric R Kandel

Mentions

30
Peak: 9 in Aug 2020
across 5 sources since Aug 2020

Extended reach

96,381
potential audience

Total likes

3,536

Video views

77,009

Mentions per month

Aug 2020 – May 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter12 posts
  • News9 articles
  • Blogs5 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Facebook2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Across the discussions, participants express high engagement by citing the study's focus on how abstract art evokes psychological distance, and the use of terms like 'deep level of engagement' and 'cognitive processes.' The tone emphasizes curiosity and recognition of the research’s relevance, with examples such as mentions of 'mental states,' 'psychological effects,' and questions about whether abstract art truly evokes different mindsets, all contributing to a generally positive perception of the study's significance.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the importance of the study, with some emphasizing its support for the idea that art influences psychological processes.

InterestHigh interest

The topic is regarded as fascinating, with posts highlighting the cognitive and emotional effects of abstract versus representational art.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts demonstrate active engagement through referencing theories and sharing insights on how art impacts perception.

ImpactModerate impact

Discussions suggest the research could significantly advance understanding of art's influence on mental states.

Abstract in brief

  • The study investigates whether abstract art triggers a different mental state compared to figurative (representational) art, using Construal Level Theory (CLT) to understand how people perceive art based on psychological distance.
  • Through experiments, the researchers found that people tend to associate abstract paintings more with distant events in time and space, indicating that abstract art evokes a greater sense of psychological distance than figurative art.
  • The findings suggest that different levels of artistic abstraction influence mental abstraction levels, and CLT offers a useful framework for empirically analyzing the cognitive effects of various artistic styles.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Ilkay
@isik_ilkay · X

Does abstract art evoke a quantifiably different mindset than representational art? An objective evaluation of the beholder’s response to abstract and figurative art based on construal level theory https://t.co/BpwBnvc4jN

Aug 9, 2020 · 15 likes · 5 shares · 555 followers View post →
Nancy Etcoff
@NancyEtcoff · X

Very interesting new paper on how abstract and representational art recruit cognitive processes @celiadurkin1 and Eric Kandel. An objective evaluation of the beholder’s response to abstract and figurative art based on construal level theory https://t.co/7zzscbQp8L

Aug 21, 2020 · 6 likes · 1 share · 1,482 followers View post →
Andrea Slachevsky - XYZverse TEAM
@ASlachevsky · X

An objective evaluation of the beholder's response to abstract and figurative art based on construal level theory https://t.co/4Yftsnvf0O

Jan 10, 2021 · 1 like · 5,418 followers View post →
Niclas Berggren
@Nonicoc · X

An objective evaluation of the beholder’s response to abstract and figurative art based on construal level theory https://t.co/gbuQaM8xHK

Aug 9, 2020 · 3,245 followers View post →
Elisa Mekler
@elisamekler · X

RT @isik_ilkay: Does abstract art evoke a quantifiably different mindset than representational art? An objective evaluation of the beholder…

Aug 10, 2020 · 5 shares · 2,464 followers View post →
Jim Bloom
@jimmyroybloom · X

https://t.co/MTezlryYBW An objective evaluation of the beholder’s response to abstract and figurative art based on construal level theory

Feb 18, 2021 · 2,417 followers View post →

All mentions

Jim Bloom
@jimmyroybloom · X

https://t.co/MTezlryYBW An objective evaluation of the beholder’s response to abstract and figurative art based on construal level theory

Feb 18, 2021 · 2,417 followers View post →
Andrea Slachevsky - XYZverse TEAM
@ASlachevsky · X

An objective evaluation of the beholder's response to abstract and figurative art based on construal level theory https://t.co/4Yftsnvf0O

Jan 10, 2021 · 1 like · 5,418 followers View post →
neuropsych
@neuropsychfacts · X

Art impacts our psyche on a deep level. Our personal experiences and memories enable abstract art to evoke unique, psychological states, influencing our perceptions, decisions, and overall mindset. https://t.co/wHqjQApHSD

Nov 8, 2020 · 121 followers View post →
BIG PARTY LAST NIGHT—Media arts, the morning after
@bigpartylastnit · X

RT @NancyEtcoff: Very interesting new paper on how abstract and representational art recruit cognitive processes @celiadurkin1 and Eric Ka…

Aug 21, 2020 · 1 share · 57 followers View post →
Nancy Etcoff
@NancyEtcoff · X

Very interesting new paper on how abstract and representational art recruit cognitive processes @celiadurkin1 and Eric Kandel. An objective evaluation of the beholder’s response to abstract and figurative art based on construal level theory https://t.co/7zzscbQp8L

Aug 21, 2020 · 6 likes · 1 share · 1,482 followers View post →
Agustín Sainz Ballesteros
@agustinsainzb · X

RT @isik_ilkay: Does abstract art evoke a quantifiably different mindset than representational art? An objective evaluation of the beholder…

Aug 10, 2020 · 5 shares · 110 followers View post →
Creativity & Imagination Lab @UGA
@the_imagine_lab · X

RT @isik_ilkay: Does abstract art evoke a quantifiably different mindset than representational art? An objective evaluation of the beholder…

Aug 10, 2020 · 5 shares · 870 followers View post →
Elisa Mekler
@elisamekler · X

RT @isik_ilkay: Does abstract art evoke a quantifiably different mindset than representational art? An objective evaluation of the beholder…

Aug 10, 2020 · 5 shares · 2,464 followers View post →
International Arts + Mind Lab
@artsandmindlab · X

RT @isik_ilkay: Does abstract art evoke a quantifiably different mindset than representational art? An objective evaluation of the beholder…

Aug 10, 2020 · 5 shares · 2,011 followers View post →
MScPANC
@mscpanc · X

RT @isik_ilkay: Does abstract art evoke a quantifiably different mindset than representational art? An objective evaluation of the beholder…

Aug 10, 2020 · 5 shares · 559 followers View post →
Niclas Berggren
@Nonicoc · X

An objective evaluation of the beholder’s response to abstract and figurative art based on construal level theory https://t.co/gbuQaM8xHK

Aug 9, 2020 · 3,245 followers View post →
Ilkay
@isik_ilkay · X

Does abstract art evoke a quantifiably different mindset than representational art? An objective evaluation of the beholder’s response to abstract and figurative art based on construal level theory https://t.co/BpwBnvc4jN

Aug 9, 2020 · 15 likes · 5 shares · 555 followers View post →