Destruction and Complexity

Abstract

It is hypothesized that the enjoyment derived from destructive acts is due to the same stimulus characteristics that determine the enjoyment obtained from aesthetic experiences-that is, factors such as complexity, unexpectedness, or novelty manifested in the destruction of the object. A film was constructed that showed a series of panes of glass being broken. Five stimuli representing a wide range of subjectively scaled complexity were used in the experiment. Subjects observed all the panes of glass being broken, and rated preference for breaking each one. Subjects believed that they would be allowed to break a pane of glass of the type rated highest. As predicted, results showed a linear relation between commitment to break an object and subjective complexity.