Beauty lies in the eye of the mindful

Abstract

Aesthetic experiences often go hand-in-hand with demands on working memory because they require maintaining an attentional focus while at the same time integrating context, memory, and sensory qualities. This enhances the processing of aesthetic attributes, leading to higher engagement and pleasure. Conditions that deplete working memory resources have been shown to be associated with a reduced intensity of aesthetic experiences. In turn, dispositional mindfulness as well as mindfulness training have been found to be associated with better working memory capacity (WMC). In this study, we investigated the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and aesthetic experiences and examined whether people with higher levels of dispositional mindfulness had more intense experiences after a brief mindfulness intervention. We also investigated whether the effect would be mediated by WMC. Participants performed self-reports on their dispositional mindfulness and underwent a brief mindfulness intervention. Afterward, they performed an aesthetic judgment task. WMC was assessed at the baseline and after the investigation. The observing facet of dispositional mindfulness was positively related to aesthetic savoring. We found no mediating effect of WMC. However, individuals who improved on the working memory task rated the pictures more beautiful. The results may provide important evidence for helping individuals benefit more from the positive effects of their aesthetic experiences.