Date created: 2021-10-14 02:49 PM | Last Updated: 2025-01-25 09:44 AM

Category: Project

Description: Several studies have consistently shown that people mostly prefer curved over angular contours. However, the curvature effect size varies across stimuli, for example, a larger effect is reported for abstract stimuli than interior spaces. A comparison across stimuli that share similar physical features and belong to the same categories is warranted to assess whether the curvature is a determinant of object preference. A second question of interest is whether inspection differences based on their contour and category affect object preference. In Study 1, we explored these questions by recording eye movements as participants rated preferences for images of two types of common use objects: tables and chairs. In Study 2, we limited the stimuli duration to 84ms because short presentations seem to enhance the curvature effect. Neither of the two studies confirmed a preference for curvature in tables and chairs. However, curvature significantly influenced fixation durations, with curved tables eliciting longer fixations than angular ones, although without affecting overall preference. The findings are discussed in reference to the roles of familiarity and object usability in formulating preference judgements.