Staring at beautiful objects really does spark inspiration

Telegraph

07-05-2025

Staring at beautiful objects really can spark inspiration, a study suggests.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have found that pausing to contemplate the beauty of art encourages 'big picture' abstract thinking, which transforms our state of mind.
Abstract thinking is important for solving complex problems, coming up with new ideas and putting things into perspective.
Looking at art can induce 'psychological distancing', the process of zooming out on your thoughts to gain clarity, the researchers believe.
'Enhance abstract thinking'
Prof Simone Schnall, senior author of the study and professor of experimental social psychology at Cambridge, said: 'Many philosophers throughout history have suggested that engaging with aesthetic beauty invokes a special kind of psychological state.
'Our research indicates that engaging with the beauty of art can enhance abstract thinking and promote a different mindset to our everyday patterns of thought, shifting us into a more expansive state of mind.
'Visiting an art museum is not just a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, it may actually change how we think about our lives.'
For the latest study, 187 volunteers were asked to visit the university's modern art gallery, Kettle's Yard, during an exhibition of handmade clay objects by pottery artist Lucie Rie.
Participants were randomly split into two groups: a 'beauty' group which was asked to actively consider and rate the beauty of each object, and a second group who just matched a line drawing of the object with the artwork.
After the task, participants underwent a test to find out how they processed information. They were asked questions such as: does writing a letter mean putting pen to paper or sharing your thoughts? Or is voting marking a ballot or influencing an election?
Moved, enlightened, and inspired
Dr Elzė Sigutė Mikalonytė, the lead author of the study and a researcher at Cambridge's department of psychology, said: 'These tests are designed to gauge whether a person is thinking in an immediate, procedural way – as we often do in our day-to-day lives – or is attuned to the deeper meaning and bigger picture of the actions they take.'
Across all participants, those in the beauty group scored almost 14 per cent higher on average than the control group in abstract thinking.
The participants' emotional states were also measured by asking about their feelings while completing the gallery task.
Across all participants, those in the beauty group reported an average of 23 per cent higher levels of 'transformative and self-transcendent feelings' – such as feeling moved, enlightened and inspired – than the control group.
'Our findings offer empirical support for a long-standing philosophical idea that beauty appreciation can help people detach from their immediate practical concerns and adopt a broader, more abstract perspective,' said Dr Mikalonytė.
The importance of public art venues
The study is one of the first to explore how aesthetic experiences in a gallery or museum can affect cognitive processing. Researchers say it shows the importance of public art venues.
It is part of a wider project being conducted by the university that is seeking to determine whether art can contribute to human flourishing and positive values.
'People today are often tethered to their devices, and we usually think in very concrete terms when we're doing something on a screen,' added Prof Schnall.
'It's becoming much rarer to zone out and just let the mind wander, but that's when we think in ways that broaden our horizons.
'Admiring the beauty of art may be the ideal way to trigger the abstract cognitive processes increasingly lost in a world of screens and smartphones.'