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Art enhances meaning by stimulating integrative complexity and aesthetic interest

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2017

Henrik Hagtvedt  and
Kathleen D. Vohs
Henrik Hagtvedt
Affiliation:
Department of Marketing, Carroll School of Management, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. hagtvedt@bc.eduhttp://www.bc.edu/schools/csom/faculty/bios/hagtvedt.html
Kathleen D. Vohs
Affiliation:
Department of Marketing, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455. kvohs@umn.eduhttps://carlsonschool.umn.edu/faculty/kathleen-vohs
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Abstract

Menninghaus et al. portrayed meaning in art as a vehicle for transforming negative emotions into pleasure. Although it is intuitively appealing that meaningful experiences should feel good, meaningfulness does not necessarily entail pleasure or positive emotions. Whereas easily comprehended art may elicit pleasure, meaningfulness is more closely tied to challenge and interest than to pleasure.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 40 , 2017 , e364
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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