Fractal Geometry: The Infinite Beauty of Repetition in Nature

6. The Psychology of Fractals: Why We Find Them Appealing

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Beyond their mathematical characteristics or useful uses, humans find great attraction with fractals. These endlessly complicated patterns have a resonance with our vision and intellect that goes quite deep. Knowing the reasons behind our attraction for fractals provides interesting new perspectives on human psychology and our interaction with the surroundings. Our interest to fractals mostly derives from their resemblance to natural forms. From the branching of trees to the jagged contours of mountains, humans have surrounded ourselves with fractal-like patterns in nature during our evolutionary path. Our visual system has probably become calibrated to effectively see and value these patterns by long exposure. Whether in art or nature, fractals let our brains identify familiar structures, therefore providing comfort and aesthetic delight. Viewing fractal patterns has been proved in research to have quantifiable affects on our psychological and physiological states. Research by physicist Richard Taylor and associates have shown that viewing fractals with a particular range of complexity—measured by their fractal dimension—can lower stress and promote a state of relaxation. This effect is thought to be related to the simplicity with which our visual system analyzes certain patterns, which reduces mental effort and hence fosters calm. Our respect of fractals depends much on the idea of "visual fluency". This speaks to how easily our brains can absorb visual data. Our brains find especially interesting the way fractals provide a special mix between simplicity and complexity. They maintain our attention without overloading us by presenting limitless detail to investigate and enough regularity for us to rapidly understand the general framework. Fascinatingly, fractals tend to appeal rather universally in many different civilizations. Although cultural elements undoubtedly shape aesthetic choices, the fundamental respect for fractal-like patterns seems to be a shared human attribute. This implies that our taste for fractals might be ingrained in our brain architecture, maybe as an adaptive trait allowing our predecessors to negotiate and comprehend their surroundings. Many natural fractals' "mid-range" complexity might also help to explain their attractiveness. While overly complicated patterns may be overpowering or anxiety-inducing, too basic ones might be uninteresting. Fractals may strike a pleasing mix of complexity that our brains find interesting yet under control. This ideal degree of visual involvement may help to explain why many individuals find natural environments soothing and why fractal-inspired art can be both peaceful and mesmerizing. From a cognitive standpoint, fractals interact uniquely to activate our pattern identification skills. As we enlarge on a fractal image, we always find fresh details reflecting the greater structure. This constant learning process can be quite fulfilling since it appeals to our natural curiosity and need to organize our environment. Fractals' attractiveness also relates to the idea of "biophilia," which holds that people naturally yearn for relationships with other species and the earth. Being so common in the natural world, fractal patterns may set off this biophilic reaction, which helps to explain why we usually find them aesthetically attractive and relaxing. Within the field of design and art, fractals' psychological attractiveness has been used to produce aesthetically pleasing surroundings that also provide psychological comfort. From the patterns in carpets to the arrangement of parks, fractal-inspired designs can help to make environments more pleasant and less taxing. Knowing the psychological effects of fractals might help in many different spheres. In the medical field, for example, including fractal components into hospital architecture could help to produce more peaceful surroundings for patients. Using fractal ideas in urban design can produce cityscapes that not only are more ecologically friendly but also more psychologically pleasing for the people. Deeper respect for these mathematical wonders and insightful analysis of our own cognitive processes follow from our ongoing unraveling of the secrets of how our brains see and react to fractals. Remind us of the close links between the world around us and the world within our heads by the intriguing illustration of how mathematics, nature, and human psychology interact found in fractals.