Table of Contents
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Description | The Aesthetic Needs Scale (ANS; Świątek et al., 2024) was designed to address the gap in psychological tools assessing aesthetic needs. Grounded in Maslow’s theory of needs (1986), Dweck’s Unified Theory (2017), and Ferrucci’s aesthetic intelligence concept (2009), the scale evaluates the role of aesthetic needs in human development. It was developed in Polish through interviews with art experts, laypersons, and philosophers. Initial development involved 28 items, later refined to a validated 12-item scale through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Participants were Polish adults recruited online, with findings confirming a three-factor structure. |
| Author | Świątek, Agata Hiacynta; Szcześniak, Małgorzata; Borkowska, Hanna; Stempień, Michał; Wojtkowiak, Karolina; Diessner, Rhett |
| Author ORCID | Świątek, Agata Hiacynta: 0000-0003-4255-6704 Szcześniak, Małgorzata: 0000-0002-6637-2304 Stempień, Michał: 0009-0007-9506-8110 |
| Purpose | To evaluate the intensity of aesthetic needs among individuals. |
| Construct | Aesthetic Needs |
| Instrument Type | Inventory/Questionnaire |
| Format | Items rated on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = “I strongly disagree” to 7 = “I strongly agree”). Higher scores indicate stronger aesthetic needs. |
| Administration Method | Electronic |
| Number of Items | 12 |
| Factors and Subscales | – Need to aestheticize everyday life – Need for contact with aesthetic creations – Need to aestheticize the built and natural environments |
| Reliability | Internal Consistency: – Need for contact with works of art: α = 0.90 – Need to aestheticize everyday life: α = 0.86 – Need to aestheticize built and natural environments: α = 0.88 – Total score: α = 0.89 |
| Validity | Criterion-Related Convergent Validity: Moderate positive correlations were found between the ANS total score and its subscales with the ability to integrate beauty. A similar trend was observed with dispositional gratitude, except for contact with works of art, which showed marginal significance. Positive correlations were noted with age and various subscales. Convergent Validity: The ANS total score and subscales correlated positively with the Aesthetic Experience Scale and its dimensions, including emotional, cultural, and perceptual subscales, and flow conditions. |
| Factor Analysis | Exploratory Factor Analysis: Maximum likelihood estimation with promax rotation supported a three-factor solution, accounting for 57.67% of the variance. Items with factor loadings ≥ 0.55 were retained. Confirmatory Factor Analysis: Excellent loadings (0.69–0.93) supported the three-factor model. Fit indices indicated good model representation: χ² = 119.323, p < 0.001; χ²/df = 2.34; GFI = 0.915; CFI = 0.96; TLI = 0.95; RMSEA = 0.08; SRMS = 0.05. |
| Test Year | 2024 |
| Affiliation | Świątek, Agata Hiacynta: Instytut Psychologii, Uniwersytet Szczeciński Szcześniak, Małgorzata: Instytut Psychologii, Uniwersytet Szczeciński Borkowska, Hanna: Instytut Psychologii, Uniwersytet Szczeciński Stempień, Michał: Instytut Psychologii, Uniwersytet Szczeciński Wojtkowiak, Karolina: Instytut Psychologii, Uniwersytet Szczeciński Diessner, Rhett: Psychology Department, Lewis-Clark State College |
| Correspondence Address | [email protected] |
| Age Group | Adulthood (18+ years); Young Adulthood (18–29 years); Thirties (30–39 years); Middle Age (40–64 years); Older Adults (65+ years) |
| Population Details | Respondents: Polish adults; Gender identities reported: Other |
| Location | Poland |
| Keywords | Aesthetic Needs; Need for Contact with Aesthetic Creations; Need to Aestheticize Everyday Life; Need to Aestheticize Built and Natural Environments; Psychology of Aesthetics |
| Files | No file is available for download. |
| Reference | Świątek, A. H., Szcześniak, M., Borkowska, H., Stempień, M., Wojtkowiak, K., & Diessner, R. (2024). The unexplored territory of aesthetic needs and the development of the Aesthetic Needs Scale. PLoS ONE, 19(3), Article e0299326. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299326 |
Aesthetic Needs Scale
Skala Potrzeb Estetycznych
(Świątek et al., 2024)
Introduction: This document presents the Aesthetic Needs Scale, developed by Świątek et al. (2024). The scale is designed to measure an individual’s level of aesthetic needs across different domains.
Instructions: Participants are asked to read each statement carefully and reflect on its applicability to themselves. Responses are recorded using a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree.”
Response Scale:
1 = Strongly Disagree
2 = Disagree
3 = Somewhat Disagree
4 = Neither Agree nor Disagree
5 = Tend to Agree
6 = Agree
7 = Strongly Agree
Scale Items:
I feel a great need to view art and/or listen to music. (Gzuję dużą potrzebę oglądania sztuki i/lub słuchania muzyki.)
I look for information about the art that interests me. (Szukam informacji na temat sztuki, która mnie interesuje.)
I am interested in artistic events in my environment. (Interesuję się wydarzeniami artystycznymi w moim otoczeniu.)
I feel a strong need for contact with art. (Odczuwam dużą potrzebę kontaktu ze sztuką.)
I pay attention to the details of a room’s decoration. (Zwracam uwagę na detale wystroju pomieszczeń.)
I pay attention to the details of other people’s clothing. (Zwracam uwagę na szczegóły ubioru innych ludzi.)
The appearance and presentation of food are important to me. (Wygląd i sposób podania jedzenia jest dla mnie ważny.)
I like it when everyday objects have an attractive appearance. (Lubię, gdy przedmioty użytkowe mają atrakcyjny wygląd.)
I often look for beauty in nature. (Często szukam piękna w przyrodzie.)
When going on a trip, I choose to stop at places based on the scenic landscape. (Wyjeżdżając na wycieczkę, wybieram miejsca wypoczynku ze względu na walory krajobrazu.)
When looking for a place to live, I would take an attractive view from the window into consideration. (Szukając miejsca zamieszkania, brał(a)bym pod uwagę atrakcyjny widok z okna.)
I derive pleasure from observing harmony in nature. (Czerpię przyjemność z obserwowania harmonii w przyrodzie.)
Scoring:
The score for each subscale is calculated by summing the responses to the items within that subscale. The scale, in its pilot version, comprises three factors:
The need for contact with art (artistic needs): Items 1-4
The need to make everyday life more aesthetic (immediate surroundings): Items 5-8
Aesthetic needs related to the built and natural environments (nature, urban spaces, buildings, etc.): Items 9-12
Cite this article
Mohammed looti (2026). Aesthetic Needs Scale (ANS). PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/aesthetic-needs-scale-ans/
Mohammed looti. "Aesthetic Needs Scale (ANS)." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 4 Apr. 2026, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/aesthetic-needs-scale-ans/.
Mohammed looti. "Aesthetic Needs Scale (ANS)." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2026. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/aesthetic-needs-scale-ans/.
Mohammed looti (2026) 'Aesthetic Needs Scale (ANS)', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/aesthetic-needs-scale-ans/.
[1] Mohammed looti, "Aesthetic Needs Scale (ANS)," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, April, 2026.
Mohammed looti. Aesthetic Needs Scale (ANS). PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2026;vol(issue):pages.