Biophilia Theory Revisited: Experts and Non-experts Perception on Aesthetic Quality of Ecological Landscape

Abstract

Biophilia discussed on the similarity of human intrinsic values that bonded mankind with the environment. This paper aimed to investigate the similarity trait of experts and non-experts in assessing the aesthetic quality of ecological landscape. Thus, selected visual aspects are tested to identify the visual concepts that represent the emotional attachment of both groups. Therefore, 5 photographs of ecological landscapes have been used in a conducted survey of 51 experts and 126 non-experts. By using Different Item Functioning (DIF) analysis, the results indicate that complexity, naturalness and legibility are the dominant visual concepts endorsed by both groups.