Nature and scenic beauty. Study of preference judgments in natural landscapes

Fernando Gonzalez Bernaldez contributed decisively to opening the broad field of environmental aesthetics studies, introducing models of relevance in the psychological research of landscape perception. In this paper the main theoretical reference models that are still relevant in the development of this line of research are compiled. An experimental collection of 16 landscapes of natural environments is evaluated in a sample of 302 participants. The results show the relevance of the presence of water and vegetation in the preference for a landscape. An integrated model describing the aesthetics of natural landscapes is proposed. This model includes variables of clarity, explicit content of the scene, social variables, and experience of fascination.