Psychology / Human Behavior Courses

Course Synopsis: Aesthetic Psychology (4CEC)

Aesthetic Psychology (4CEC) explores the deep emotional, cognitive, and psychological dimensions of how individuals experience, interpret, and are transformed by visual art, particularly painting. The course examines how art is an object of visual beauty and a dynamic catalyst for emotional engagement, self-discovery, cultural reflection, and psychological growth.

Students are introduced to essential psychological theories (e.g., emotional regulation, cognitive styles, aesthetic preferences) and foundational art movements (e.g., Realism, Impressionism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism), learning how different styles uniquely affect the emotional and cognitive mind. Special emphasis is placed on how individual factors—such as personal values, memories, cultural background, and emotional states—influence aesthetic experience.

The course invites learners to:

• Develop emotional sensitivity and intelligence through artistic engagement.

• Explore how personal experiences shape emotional reactions to paintings.

• Analyze how cognitive styles and cultural factors influence interpretation.

• Understand art’s role in emotional catharsis, healing, and psychological insight.

• Appreciate the universal and culturally specific emotional languages of art.

• Engage critical and imaginative faculties to interpret visual art dynamically.

Aesthetic Psychology (4CEC) encourages students to observe art and experience it as a mirror of their inner lives. By the end of the course, students will be able to identify and articulate the emotional and cognitive mechanisms at work when encountering artworks and explain how art functions as both a personal and cultural phenomenon of meaning, memory, and emotion.

Evaluation is exclusively through Multiple-Choice (MC) and True-False (TF) examinations, measuring students' comprehension, application, and synthesis of course material.