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Individual Differences in the Centrality of Visual Product Aesthetics

Authors:
Peter Bloch at University of Missouri
Peter Bloch
Frederic Francois Brunel at Boston University
Frederic Francois Brunel
Todd Arnold at Oklahoma State University
Todd Arnold
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Abstract

This research conceptualizes and develops a scale to measure individual differences in the centrality of visual product aesthetics (CVPA), defined as the level of significance that visual aesthetics hold for a particular consumer in his/her relationship with products. Three related dimensions of product aesthetics centrality emerged from the research: value, acumen, and response intensity. A series of eight studies provided evidence that the CVPA measure possesses satisfactory reliability and validity. Additionally, this research illuminates important differences between high and low CVPA consumers in product-design-related evaluations and behaviors and provides suggestions for future research employing the scale. Copyright 2003 by the University of Chicago.
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Individual differences in the centrality of visual product aesthetics: Conce...
Peter H Bloch; Frederic F Brunel; Todd J Arnold
Journal of Consumer Research; Mar 2003; 29, 4; ABI/INFORM Global
pg. 551
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Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
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Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
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... Furthermore, we controlled for design acumen, defined as a consumer's ability to recognize, categorize, and evaluate product designs (Bloch et al., 2003). Consumers with high design acumen are assumed to make sensory connections faster and exhibit more sophisticated preferences concerning object design (Csikszentmihalyi & Robinson, 1990). ...
... Design Acumen (Bloch et al., 2003) Being able to see subtle differences in product design is one skill that I have developed over time. I see things in a product's design that other people tend to pass over. ...
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