EXPLAINED: Visual delight pictures | Vintage Vibes

“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.”

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.”

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.