Rolf Reber, Norbert Schwarz, and Piotr Winkielman propose that aesthetic pleasure is a function of the perceiver's processing dynamics. They argue that the more fluently an object can be processed, the more positive the aesthetic response. This perspective integrates variables influencing aesthetic judgments, such as figural goodness, symmetry, and prototypicality, into a framework where processing fluency mediates aesthetic pleasure. They contrast this with theories that attribute beauty to objective stimulus features, suggesting instead that beauty is rooted in the perceiver's processing experiences, influenced by both stimulus properties and cognitive processes. The authors define beauty as a pleasurable subjective experience directed toward an object, not mediated by reasoning. They argue that judgments of preference, liking, and beauty are closely related, as they often involve similar processes. They also note that beauty is not the same as aesthetic value, which often involves substantial reasoning about the object. The concept of processing fluency is central to their argument. Perceptual fluency, or the ease of identifying a stimulus, is influenced by factors like priming and repetition. High fluency is associated with positive affect and is linked to increased liking. Empirical studies support this, showing that fluency affects evaluations of stimuli, including preference for familiar or prototypical forms. The authors also discuss how fluency effects are moderated by expectations and attributions. Unexpected fluency can lead to stronger affective responses, while attributing fluency to irrelevant sources reduces its impact. They argue that processing fluency mediates aesthetic judgments, with fluency-based affective responses serving as a basis for preference. Research on objective features of stimuli, such as symmetry and figure-ground contrast, shows that these features influence processing fluency and thus aesthetic evaluations. Studies on repeated exposure and implicit learning also support the role of fluency in preference. The authors conclude that processing fluency is a key determinant of aesthetic pleasure, with fluency-based experiences mediating judgments of beauty and preference. They suggest that future research should explore stronger subjective experiences and the interplay between early preferences and cultural influences on taste.Rolf Reber, Norbert Schwarz, and Piotr Winkielman propose that aesthetic pleasure is a function of the perceiver's processing dynamics. They argue that the more fluently an object can be processed, the more positive the aesthetic response. This perspective integrates variables influencing aesthetic judgments, such as figural goodness, symmetry, and prototypicality, into a framework where processing fluency mediates aesthetic pleasure. They contrast this with theories that attribute beauty to objective stimulus features, suggesting instead that beauty is rooted in the perceiver's processing experiences, influenced by both stimulus properties and cognitive processes. The authors define beauty as a pleasurable subjective experience directed toward an object, not mediated by reasoning. They argue that judgments of preference, liking, and beauty are closely related, as they often involve similar processes. They also note that beauty is not the same as aesthetic value, which often involves substantial reasoning about the object. The concept of processing fluency is central to their argument. Perceptual fluency, or the ease of identifying a stimulus, is influenced by factors like priming and repetition. High fluency is associated with positive affect and is linked to increased liking. Empirical studies support this, showing that fluency affects evaluations of stimuli, including preference for familiar or prototypical forms. The authors also discuss how fluency effects are moderated by expectations and attributions. Unexpected fluency can lead to stronger affective responses, while attributing fluency to irrelevant sources reduces its impact. They argue that processing fluency mediates aesthetic judgments, with fluency-based affective responses serving as a basis for preference. Research on objective features of stimuli, such as symmetry and figure-ground contrast, shows that these features influence processing fluency and thus aesthetic evaluations. Studies on repeated exposure and implicit learning also support the role of fluency in preference. The authors conclude that processing fluency is a key determinant of aesthetic pleasure, with fluency-based experiences mediating judgments of beauty and preference. They suggest that future research should explore stronger subjective experiences and the interplay between early preferences and cultural influences on taste.