Why Beautiful Things Make us Happy – Beauty Explained

Summary

This script explores the concept of beauty, its evolution, and its impact on human psychology and well-being. It discusses how our ancestors' appreciation for symmetry and patterns, rooted in nature, has shaped our innate sense of beauty. The script also highlights how beauty influences our emotions, health, and decision-making, suggesting that aesthetically pleasing environments can enhance our lives. The importance of integrating beauty into our man-made world is emphasized, with examples of how it can improve patient recovery and overall happiness.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Beauty is a subjective and intangible human experience, deeply rooted in our perception of color, shape, form, and proportion.
• 🗺️ The definition of beauty has evolved over time, but certain patterns like the golden ratio, symmetry, and fractals have remained constant across cultures.
• 🧬 Our appreciation for beauty may have biological roots, as recognizing certain patterns in nature was crucial for our ancestors' survival.
• 🐚 Fractal patterns are prevalent in nature and played a role in early humans' ability to predict and interpret their environment.
• 🌿 Symmetry in nature often signals health and balance, which could explain why we find symmetrical objects and faces attractive.
• 🧠 The human brain is hardwired to recognize and respond to beauty, a trait that persists even in cognitive decline, as seen in Alzheimer's patients.
• 🎨 There is a 'lowest common denominator' in our perception of beauty, as demonstrated by experiments where people can distinguish real abstract art from imitations.
• 🏙️ Modern environments often neglect beauty in favor of functionality, cost, or efficiency, leading to monotonous and sometimes unpleasant spaces.
• 🚑 Aesthetically pleasing surroundings can improve well-being, behavior, cognitive function, and mood, as evidenced by studies on hospital recovery.
• 🌆 The impact of beauty on happiness is significant, with research showing that living in a beautiful city can increase individual happiness more than cleanliness or safety.

Q & A

What is the main idea of the video script?

The main idea of the video script is that beauty, although intangible, plays a significant role in human experience. It is deeply rooted in our biology and has evolved from survival mechanisms. Beauty impacts our well-being, cognitive function, and happiness, and is important to consider in the design of our environments.

How does the script define beauty?

The script defines beauty as a human experience that exists in our heads as a pleasant feeling. It is perceived when something's color, shape, form, or proportion is appealing or delightful to us.

What are some examples of beauty mentioned in the script?

Examples of beauty mentioned include landscapes, faces, fine art, architecture, stars in the sky, and even the reflection of the sun on an empty bottle. Additionally, the golden ratio, symmetry, and fractal patterns in nature are cited as inherently beautiful.

Why is symmetry considered important in the perception of beauty?

Symmetry is important because it is common in nature and indicates that things are as they should be. It helped our ancestors evaluate their environment and recognize signals of safety and nutrition, which in turn activated the reward centers in their brains.

How does the script suggest beauty evolved in humans?

The script suggests that beauty evolved from our ancestors' need to recognize patterns in nature that were crucial for survival. Over time, humans developed an instinct for beauty that is hardwired into us and persists even when other cognitive functions decline.

What does the script say about the impact of beauty on human well-being?

The script states that beautiful surroundings can improve our well-being, behavior, cognitive function, and mood. For example, patients in more aesthetically pleasing hospital environments required less pain medication and were released earlier.

What role does beauty play in modern environments according to the script?

In modern environments, beauty is often neglected in favor of functionality, cost, or efficiency. However, the script argues that beauty is crucial for our well-being and that making functional things beautiful can make them better.

How does the script explain the consistency of beauty preferences in humans?

The script explains that humans have a lowest common denominator when it comes to beauty. Experiments have shown that people can consistently distinguish between real and fake artworks, suggesting that certain patterns and designs are universally recognized as beautiful.

What is the connection between beauty and happiness according to the script?

The script highlights that beauty is a significant factor in individual happiness, even more so than cleanliness or safety. Beautiful surroundings contribute to a person's overall happiness and satisfaction with their environment.

What does the script suggest we should do with the knowledge about beauty's impact on us?

The script suggests that we should give more space to beauty in the man-made world we have created. Since beauty meets an inherent need for meaningful information and positively influences our well-being, it is worth incorporating more beauty into our surroundings.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 The Evolution of Beauty

This paragraph delves into the concept of beauty, highlighting its intangible nature and its evolution throughout human history. It discusses how early humans shaped their tools symmetrically, possibly for aesthetic pleasure, despite no practical benefits. The text explores how ideals of beauty have shifted over time, yet certain patterns like the golden ratio, symmetry, and fractals have remained constant across cultures. These patterns are rooted in nature and are linked to survival, as they helped our ancestors assess their environment. The paragraph also touches on how our brain's reward center is activated by recognizing these patterns, which may have contributed to the development of our sense of beauty. It concludes by noting that this sense of beauty is deeply ingrained, persisting even in Alzheimer's patients and being universally recognized in genuine abstract art over imitations or child/animal creations.

05:02

🌟 The Impact of Beauty on Well-being

The second paragraph focuses on the tangible benefits of beauty on human well-being. It cites studies showing that aesthetically pleasing environments can enhance cognitive function, mood, and behavior. For instance, a hospital study found that visual art in lounge areas improved patient comfort and happiness. Another revealed that patients in a newly renovated, more attractive ward required less pain medication and were discharged earlier. The paragraph emphasizes that beauty is not just a superficial quality but one that can physically improve health outcomes. It also mentions a study linking the beauty of one's city to individual happiness, suggesting that beauty is a fundamental human need. The paragraph ends by suggesting that beauty should be given more consideration in our man-made environments for the sake of our well-being, and it promotes an upcoming beauty exhibition as a platform to explore these concepts further.

Keywords

💡Beauty

Beauty is described as an intangible concept that exists in our minds as a pleasant feeling. It is perceived when something's color, shape, form, or proportion is appealing or delightful to us. The video explores beauty as a deeply human experience that has evolved over millions of years, influencing our perception and behavior, and even affecting our well-being.

💡Symmetry

Symmetry is a key concept discussed in the video as a pattern found frequently in nature, which our ancestors relied on to evaluate their environment. Symmetrical objects, like well-formed tools or faces, are often perceived as indicators of health and safety. The video suggests that our preference for symmetry is deeply rooted in our biology, influencing our sense of beauty.

💡Fractal Patterns

Fractal patterns, which are repetitive patterns found in nature, are highlighted in the video as elements that contribute to our perception of beauty. Examples include snail shells and cloud formations. The video argues that recognizing these patterns was vital for the survival of early humans, and they continue to evoke a sense of beauty in us today.

💡Golden Ratio

The golden ratio is mentioned as a mathematical proportion that has been consistently associated with beauty across different cultures and eras. This ratio appears in art, architecture, and nature, and is considered aesthetically pleasing. The video uses the golden ratio to illustrate how certain patterns have a universal appeal.

💡Pattern Recognition

Pattern recognition is discussed as the underlying mechanism through which humans have developed their sense of beauty. The video suggests that our ability to recognize patterns in nature helped our ancestors survive, and over time, this ability evolved into an instinct for identifying beauty.

💡Human Evolution

Human evolution is referenced in the context of how our sense of beauty has developed. The video explains that our ancestors' preference for symmetrical and well-shaped tools or partners likely had survival benefits, and this preference has been passed down through generations, shaping our modern sense of beauty.

💡Architecture

Architecture is used as an example to illustrate how beauty (or the lack thereof) in our built environment affects our well-being. The video contrasts aesthetically pleasing buildings with bland, monotonous structures, showing how the former can enhance our happiness and health, while the latter can cause discomfort and stress.

💡Well-being

Well-being is a central theme, as the video explores how beautiful surroundings can positively influence our physical and mental health. Studies mentioned in the video show that aesthetically pleasing environments can reduce stress, improve mood, and even aid in faster recovery from illness.

💡Cultural Ideals

Cultural ideals refer to the changing standards of beauty throughout history. The video explains that while the definition of beauty has shifted over time, certain principles, like the golden ratio and symmetry, have remained universally appealing, indicating a deep-rooted biological basis for our sense of beauty.

💡Modern Environment

The modern environment is discussed in the context of how human-made surroundings often prioritize functionality and efficiency over beauty. The video critiques this trend, suggesting that neglecting beauty in our environment can negatively impact our well-being, and advocates for more consideration of aesthetics in urban planning and design.

Highlights

Beauty is a subjective experience that can be found in various forms such as landscapes, faces, art, and architecture.

Beauty is not tangible but a pleasant feeling perceived through color, shape, form, or proportion.

The human pursuit of beauty dates back millions of years, evident even in the symmetrical shaping of early tools.

The golden ratio, symmetry, and fractal patterns are constants in human perception of beauty across cultures and time.

Fractal patterns, prevalent in nature, were crucial for survival, helping early humans assess their environment.

Symmetry in nature often signals health and safety, a concept deeply ingrained in human perception.

The brain's reward center is activated by beauty, linking it to survival and positive emotions.

The instinct for beauty is hardwired in humans, persisting even in cognitive decline as seen in Alzheimer's patients.

There is a 'lowest common denominator' in human perception of beauty, suggesting universal standards.

Experiments show that people can distinguish original artworks from imitations based on pattern integrity.

The human-made environment often neglects beauty in favor of functionality, cost, or efficiency.

Monotony in the environment causes discomfort and stress, as shown by eye tracking and skin sensor studies.

Aesthetically pleasing surroundings can improve well-being, behavior, cognitive function, and mood.

Hospital patients in more beautiful environments recover faster and need less pain medication.

Beauty in one's living environment is a significant factor in overall happiness, even more than cleanliness or safety.

Beauty meets an inherent human need for meaningful information and should be prioritized in our man-made world.

The video is a collaboration with Sagmeister and Walsh, contributing to their upcoming beauty exhibition.

Transcripts

A lot of things can be beautiful.

Landscapes, faces, fine art, or epic architecture; stars in the sky.

Or simply the reflection of the sun on an empty bottle.

Beauty is nothing tangible, it only exists in our heads as a pleasant feeling.

If we have to define it, we perceive something as beautiful if its color, shape, form, or proportion

somehow are appealing or delightful to us.

Beauty is a very human experience that's been with us for millions of years.

Even our first tools were trimmed to a symmetrical shape.

Researchers have tried to find practical reasons why our ancestors invested the time to make their tools look nice, but couldn't really identify any.

It seems that early humans shaped their tools into teardrops, simply because they liked them better that way.

Throughout our history, the definition of beauty has changed a lot.

Ideals have shifted or turned into their opposites.

But beyond individual and contemporary tastes some things have never really gone out of fashion.

The golden ratio, symmetry, or fractal patterns can be found in the art and architecture of cultures from our beginnings, to today.

Humans seem to be in mysterious, inherent agreement about the beauty of certain things.

The patterns that keep coming up are all rooted in nature.

They became part of our biology because they helped our ancestors survive.

Fractal patterns for example, occur all over nature.

In snail shells, flower heads; waves or clouds

Identifying and assessing these things and phenomena correctly used to be vital.

Do those clouds mean rain will come soon? Are these waters safe to swim through? Can I eat this?

Another pervasive thing is symmetry.

In nature it means everything is as it should be

Stems and trees and leaves and blossoms all grow symmetrically

A deer with impressive antlers is probably a source of nutritious meat.

A deformed wheat hair may not be safe to eat.

A symmetrical face is more likely to belong to a healthy and fertile mating partner.

Because symmetry is so common in fauna and flora, it's extremely familiar to our brain.

It helped our ancestors evaluate their environment more easily, and react quickly to danger.

Things that helped us survive activate the reward center in our brain.

recognising signals of safety and nutrition, triggered nice feelings in us.

So our sense of beauty probably evolved from pattern recognition, but it goes way beyond that now.

Humans seem to have evolved an instinct for beauty that is deeply hardwired into us.

It remain even after other processes in our brain stop working.

Alzheimer's patients were asked to rank the beauty of several paintings

Then the experiment was repeated two weeks later

The patients have long since forgotten the paintings, but still ranked the beauty of the paintings in the same order.

One could argue that this doesn't say much. So what if people stick to their personal preferences?

But other research has shown that we have a sort of lowest common denominator when it comes to beauty.

In different experiments, people were asked to distinguish real from fake abstract paintings.

Some were originals by Mondrian and Pollock that were painted based on strict rules like fractal patterns, while the imitations were not.

The majority picked out the original artworks.

This worked for paintings from both artists, even though their arts are very different.

Another experiment also used abstract artworks but, asked people to pick them out among similar paintings made either by children or animals.

Again, the test subjects pointed out the legit paintings whose patterns were carefully planned and not random

So while we have a hard time pinning down what beauty is or what it's based on, we somehow recognize it when we see it

Humans don't navigate nature trying to survive day by day anymore

We left the natural world behind and created our own.

We made the objects that surround us the things we wear and use and look at.

As we spread over the planet and our numbers grew, we shaped a completely man-made environment.

In the process of doing so, we often neglected beauty in favor of functionality cost or efficiency.

We built rows and rows of concrete housing blocks that nobody wants to live in.

We have ugly underground subway stations, shabby public service buildings, and sprawling malls.

One bland, standardized box beside the next.

Humans, don't like monotony.

Eye tracking software has shown that people keep focusing on details and ornaments of architecture while brushing quickly over blank walls

And not only are they no fun to look at, they actually make us miserable.

Experiments with skin sensors showed that looking at vast, dull facades makes us feel bored and uncomfortable.

This kind of boredom has been linked to raised heart rates and stress levels and the opposite seems to be true, too.

Over the last decades more and more studies have found that surroundings that are actually aesthetically pleasing to us can improve our well-being, our behavior,

cognitive function, and mood.

Our bodies and brains react measurably and visibly to everything that surrounds us

Beauty in particular has such a strong impact on our well-being that making useful things beautiful can actually make them better.

In 2017, a hospital examined recovery factors through observation and interviews with patients and found that visual art in their lounge areas

made them more comfortable and happier about their stay in general.

Another study looked at how well patients recovered in a hospital that had two wards.

A very old and rather ugly one, and a newly renovated ward.

To the researchers' surprise, the patients that stayed in the new, renovated environment, needed less pain medication

and were released on average, two days earlier than patients recovering in the old ward.

More beautiful surroundings made them feel better, physically.

Beauty also has an effect on us on a daily basis.

It can improve our general happiness.

A study that looked at the main factors influencing the happiness of adults revealed an unexpected result.

Besides things like good health in a harmonious family life, individual happiness is affected by how beautiful you find the city you live in.

Beauty scored even higher than cleanliness or safety.

So what can we learn from all of this?

We know that we humans have been fine-tuned for millions of years to process visual input and assess our surroundings.

It's just what we're programmed to do and we're starting to learn more about how much beauty as a property is really influencing us.

Beauty meets an inherent need for meaningful information.

Maybe it would be worth giving it more space in this man-made world we have created.

This video was a collaboration with the creative agencies, Sagmeister and Walsh as a contribution to their upcoming beauty exhibition.

The exhibition will be shown at the Mak Vienna from Oct. 23, 2018 - Mar. 31, 2019

and a Mak Frankfurt from May 01, 2019 - Sept. 30, 2019

If you want to learn more about the impact of beauty and see tons of gorgeous installations and multimedia objects,

go check it out!

review: Doğa Poyraz Tahan