In conversations with designer and artist friends, I’ve been talking a lot lately about how everything looks the same right now. The same colors and shapes are everywhere. Sure, if something is “in” right now, it’s clear that social media is full of it. People like to share things that have already been shared by others. After all, if many people share something, it must be good, right? But why is that?
The Mere-Exposure-Effect is a psychological principle that states that the more often we come into contact with something, the more we like it. This principle has a huge impact on our perception of aesthetics and happens completely unconsciously.
In other words, people often like things simply because they are exposed to them again and again. This effect has been shown to apply to a wide variety of objects and concepts, including faces, words, and music.
Is it possible to “escape” the Mere-Exposure-Effect?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as the Mere-Exposure-Effect is a psychological phenomenon that occurs entirely subconsciously. However, some experts believe that it is possible to escape the Mere-Exposure Effect by consciously avoiding exposure to stimuli, like mindless scrolling through Social Media.
I want my aesthetic perception to be affected as little as possible. That’s why I gave up Instagram and co. some time ago. Since then, I’ve been more consciously selecting the sources from which I draw inspiration.
What about you? What sources do you use to get inspired? Do you feel your aesthetics have been changed by social media? Feel free to leave me a comment below this article!
About Exploring Aesthetics:
Sarah loves asking questions and exploring the things she engages with on a daily basis. Exploring aesthetics is her column which discusses art, design, and aesthetics to explore, inspire, and question the status quo.
