Individual differences as predictors of preference in visual art R Walter Heinrichs and Gerald C Cupchik, Umversity of Toronto Abstract A study was conducted to determine the value of personality and back- ground vanables (e g , emotional responsivity, anxiety, parental memones, art training) as predictors of painting preferences One set of 24 paintings was selected, holding theme (sexual or aggressive) constant while contrasting Idealized (12) with Expressionist (12) styles Another set contrasted paint- ings on the Representational ys Abstract (12) and Linear vs Painterly (12) stylistic dimensions Contrasting pairs of paintings were presented to 48 subjects who rated preference under two instructional sets (objective inter- est and subjective pleasing) Questionnaire measures of personality and background were entered into step-wise multiple regression analyses, one for each type of preference and each stimulus contrast (8 altogether) Affective characteristics of the viewer (e g , anxiety, emotional responsivity) and parental memories (e g , of maternal affection or expressivity) predicted subjective preference For example, subjects who remembered their moth- ers as either expressive or affectionate preferred Idealized versions of sexual and aggressive paintings Artistic training and background emerged only in relation to objective preferences The study of aesthetic preference in relation to personality is grounded on the assumption that what a yiewer likes is determined in part by the yiewer's own qualities and characteristics This poses two basic problems for the psychological aesthetician The first is descriptiye, the other, explanatory First, it must be demonstrated that, indeed, significant empincal relations exist between a yiewer's preference and his or her character traits, emotional disposition, and personal background Once this has been established, consideration must be giyen as to why these relations exist Why does a pattern of personality yariables associate with any giyen configuration of aes- The present studv was conducted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master s Degree in Psychology at the University of Toronto by the first author We would like to thank Rolf Kroger and Constantine Poulos for their helpful comments on the manuscript Requests for reprints should be sent to Gerald C Cupchik Universitv of Toronto Scarborough Campus, Life Sciences Division, Scarborough Ontario, Canada MIC 1A4 Journal of Personahty 53 3, September 1985 Copynght © 1985 by Duke Universitv Press CCC 0022-3506/85/$! 50