The neurophysiological and behavioral basis of the appreciation of beauty and excellence: A systematic review and meta-analysis of its relationship with well-being

Manuscript (ελληνικά)
Published: Apr 23, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/psy_hps.45327
Keywords:
appreciation of beauty and excellence, character strengths, well-being, neurophysiology, behavioral measures, systematic review, meta-analysis
Eleni Olympiou
Department of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3972-3711
Christos Pezirkianidis
Lab of Positive Psychology, Department of Psychology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7684-5902
Despina Moraitou
Department of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, (CIRI—AUTH), Balkan Center, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0527-7143
Abstract

The present study constitutes a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence (ABE) as a character strength and its relationship with well-being. The search was conducted in three international databases following the PRISMA methodology and resulted in the inclusion of 26 empirical studies. At the neurophysiological level, findings from functional magnetic resonance imaging studies indicate that the processing of ABE engages extensive brain networks involved in aesthetic, emotional, and cognitive evaluation, with the medial orbitofrontal cortex playing a central role. At the behavioral level, three main psychometric instruments have been developed to assess ABE, demonstrating satisfactory reliability and validity and allowing the investigation of its different dimensions. The meta-analysis of the available data revealed a stable positive association between ABE and well-being in both general and clinical populations. At the same time, substantial variability in the magnitude of this relationship was observed, suggesting that the contribution of ABE to well-being is influenced by cultural, contextual, and methodological factors. Overall, the findings document that the ability to recognize beauty and excellence constitutes a core component of well-being and a resource for recovery from illness, highlighting its importance for the development of positive psychology interventions.

Article Details
  • Section
  • SPECIAL SECTION
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

The journal PSYCHOLOGY adopts a Platinum open-access policy. Submission, processing or publication costs are waived by the Hellenic Psychological Society. Papers published in the journal PSYCHOLOGY are licensed under a 'Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International' licence. The authors reserve the copyright of their work and grant the journal the right of its first publication. Third-party licensees are allowed to use the published paper immediately after publication as they wish, provided they retain the defined by the license copyright formalities, regarding the reference to its author(s) and its initial publication in the journal PSYCHOLOGY. Moreover, any adjusted work should be shared under the same reuse rights, so with the same CC license.

Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
Antebi-Gruszka, N., Friedman, A. A., & Schrimshaw, E. W. (2021). Character strengths and their associations with well-being and mental distress among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer individuals. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 33(2), 157-179. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538720.2020.1859424
Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4(6), 561-571. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1961.01710120031004
Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. (1996). Beck Depression Inventory–II (BDI-II). APA PsycTests. https://doi.org/10.1037/t00742-000
Cheng, Q., Cui, X., Lin, J., Weng, X., & Mo, L. (2020). Neural correlates of moral goodness and moral beauty judgments. Brain Research, 1726(1), 146534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146534
Cheng, Q, Han, Z., Liu, S., Kong, Y., Weng, X., & Mo, L. (2022). Neural responses to facial attractiveness in the judgments of moral goodness and moral beauty. Brain Structure and Function, 227(3), 843-863. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-021-02422-5
Cheng, Q., Wen, X., Ye, G., Liu, Y., Kong, Y., & Mo, L. (2021). Neural underpinnings of morality judgment and moral aesthetic judgment. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 18232. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97782-7
Choudhury, A.S., Borooah, P. I. (2017). Character strengths and academic achievements of undergraduate college students of Guwahati, Assam. Space and Culture India, 5(1), 49-64. https://doi.org/10.20896/saci.v5i1.242
Diener, E. D., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The =Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D. W., Oishi, S., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2010). New well-being measures: Short scales to assess flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicators Research, 97(2), 143-156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9493-y
Diessner, R., & Niemiec, R. M. (2023). Can beauty save the world? Appreciation of beauty predicts proenvironmental behavior and moral elevation better than 23 other character strengths. Ecopsychology, 15(2), 93-109. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2022.0047
Diessner, R., Solom, C. R., Frost, K. N., Parsons, L., & Davidson, J. (2008). Engagement with beauty: Appreciating natural, artistic, and moral beauty. The Journal of Psychology, 142(3), 303-329. https://doi.org/10.3200/JRLP.142.3.303-332
Diessner, R., Pohling, R., Stacy, S., & Güsewell, A. (2018). Trait appreciation of beauty: A story of love, transcendence, and inquiry. Review of General Psychology, 22(4), 377–397. https://doi.org/10.1037/gpr0000166
Feraco, T., Casali, N., Meneghetti, C., Greiff, S., & Cona, G. (2023). Is good character all that counts? A comparison between the predictive role of specific strengths and a general factor of “good character” using a bifactor model. Journal of Happiness Studies, 24(7), 2353-2376. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-023-00686-8
Freidlin, P., Littman-Ovadia, H., & Niemiec, R. M. (2017). Positive psychopathology: Social anxiety via character strengths underuse and overuse. Personality and Individual Differences, 108, 50-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.12.003
Güsewell, A., & Ruch, W. (2012). Are there multiple channels through which we connect with beauty and excellence? The Journal of Positive Psychology, 7(6), 516-529. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2012.726636
Haidt, J. & Keltner, D. (2004). Appreciation of beauty and excellence [awe, wonder, elevation]. In C. Peterson & M. E. P. Seligman (Eds.), Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification (pp. 537–551). American Psychological Association and Oxford University Press.
Hausler, M., Strecker, C., Huber, A., Brenner, M., Höge, T., & Höfer, S. (2017). Distinguishing relational aspects of character strengths with subjective and psychological well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1159. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01159
Huber, A., Strecker, C., Kachel, T., Höge, T., & Höfer, S. (2020). Character strengths profiles in medical professionals and their impact on well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 566728. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.566728
Huta, V., & Hawley, L. (2010). Psychological strengths and cognitive vulnerabilities: Are they two ends of the same continuum or do they have independent relationships with well-being and ill-being? Journal of Happiness Studies: An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-Being, 11(1), 71–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-008-9123-4
Kessler, R. C., Andrews, G., Colpe, L. J., Hiripi, E., Mroczek, D. K., Normand, S.-L. T., Walters, E. E., & Zaslavsky, A. M. (2002). Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychological Medicine, 32(6), 959–976. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291702006074
Littman-Ovadia, H., & Freidlin, P. (2020). Positive psychopathology and positive functioning: OCD, flourishing and satisfaction with life through the lens of character strength underuse, overuse and optimal use. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 15(2) 529-549. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-018-9701-5
Luo, Q., Yu, M., & Mo., L. (2019). The neural correlates of integrated aesthetics between moral and facial beauty. Scientific Reports, 9, 1980. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-38553-3
Martínez-Martí, M. L., Avia, M.D., & Hernández-Lloreda, M. J. (2014). Appreciation of beauty training: A web-based intervention. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(6), 477–481. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2014.920512
Martinez-Marti, M. L., Hernández-Lloreda, M. J., & Avia, M. D. (2016). Appreciation of beauty and excellence: Relationship with personality, prosociality and well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies: An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-Being, 17(6), 2613–2634. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-015-9709-6
Martinez-Marti, M. L., Avia, M. D., & Hernández-Lloreda, M. J. (2018). Psychology of aesthetics, creativity, and the arts. Effects of an appreciation of beauty randomized-controlled trial web-based intervention on appreciation of beauty and well-being. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 12(3), 272–283. https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000164
Mattheiss, S. R., & Herrmann, J. W. (2024). Fostering appreciation of beauty in education: toward a goal of enhancing individual and collective well-being via self-transcendent emotions. Frontiers in Education, 9, 1381101. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1381101
McGrath, R. E. (2019). The VIA assessment suite for adults: Development and initial evaluation (revised edition). VIA Institute on Character. https://www.viacharacter.org
McGrath, R. E., Niemiec, R. M., & Westrich, B. (2025). The Golden Mean Inventory: A new approach to studying character strengths imbalances across contexts. Personality and Individual Differences, 234, 112951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2024.112951
Monroy, M., & Keltner, D. (2023). Awe as a pathway to mental and physical health. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 18(2), 309-320. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916221094856
Naddaf, A. S., & Lavy, S. (2022). Character strengths' change during COVID-19. Journal of Happiness Studies, 24(1), 185-210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00575-6
Nocon, A., Roestorf, A., & Gutiérrez Menéndez, M. L. (2022). Positive psychology in neurodiversity: An investigation of character strengths in autistic adults in the United Kingdom in a community setting. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 99(1), 102071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2022.102071
O’Doherty, J. P., Dayan, P., Friston, K., Critchley, H., & Dolan, R. J. (2003) Temporal difference models and reward-related learning in the human brain. Neuron, 38(2), 329-337. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0896-6273(03)00169-7
Olympiou, H., & Moraitou, D. (2025). The virtue of transcendence in positive psychology: Empirical definition. Hellenic Journal of Psychology, 22(3), 318-352. https://doi.org/10.26262/hjp.v22i3.10447
Onu, D., Smith, J. R., & Kesssler, T. (2016). Admiration: A conceptual review. Emotion Review, 8(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073915610438
Peterson, C., Park, N., & Seligman, M. E. (2005). Orientations to happiness and life satisfaction: The full life versus the empty life. Journal of Happiness Studies, 6(1), 25-41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-004-1278-z
Peterson, C., Park, N., & Seligman, M. E. (2006). Greater strengths of character and recovery from illness. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1(1), 17-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760500372739
Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. Oxford University Press.
Pezirkianidis, C., Karakasidou, E., Stalikas, A., Moraitou, D., & Charalambous, V. (2020). Character strengths and virtues in the Greek cultural context. Psychology: The Journal of the Hellenic Psychological Society, 25(1), 35-54. https://doi.org/10.12681/psy_hps.25335
Pezirkianidis, C., Stalikas, A., Lakioti, A., & Yotsidi, V. (2021). Validating a multidimensional measure of wellbeing in Greece: Translation, factor structure, and measurement invariance of the PERMA Profiler. Current Psychology, 40(6), 3030-3047. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00236-7
Proyer, R. T., Gander, F., Wyss, T., & Ruch, W. (2011). The relation of character strengths to past, present, and future life satisfaction among German‐speaking women. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 3(3), 370–384. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-0854.2011.01060.x
Proyer, R. T., Ruch, W., & Buschor, C. (2013). Testing strengths-based interventions: A preliminary study on the effectiveness of a program targeting curiosity, gratitude, hope, humor, and zest for enhancing life satisfaction. Journal of Happiness Studies: An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-Being, 14(1), 275–292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9331-9
Proyer, R. T., Gander, F., Wellenzohn, S., & Ruch, W. (2016). Nine beautiful things: A self-administered online positive psychology intervention on the beauty in nature, arts, and behaviors increases happiness and ameliorates depressive symptoms. Personality and Individual Differences, 94, 189-193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.01.028
Rolls, E. T. (2004). The functions of the orbitofrontal cortex. Brain and Cognition, 55, 11–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0278-2626(03)00277-X
Sakano, Y., Wada, A., Ikeda, H., Saheki, Y., Tagai, K., Ando, H. (2021). Human brain activity reflecting facial attractiveness from skin reflection. Scientific Reports, 11, 3412. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82601-w
Schaufeli, W. B., Bakker, A. B., & Salanova, M. (2006). The measurement of work engagement with a short questionnaire: A cross-national study. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66(4), 701-716. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164405282471
Seligman, M. E., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60(5), 410-421. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.60.5.410
Soria-Reyes, L. M., Cerezo, M. V., Molina, P., & Blanca, M. J. (2023). Life satisfaction and character strengths in women with breast cancer: Zest and hope as predictors. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 22, 15347354231197648. https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354231197648
Tantry, T. P., Karanth, H., Shetty, P. K., & Kadam, D. (2021). Self-learning software tools for data analysis in meta-analysis. Korean Journal of Anesthesiology, 74(5), 459-461. https://doi.org/10.4097/kja.21080
Umucu, E., Lee, B., Genova, M. H., Chopik, J. W., Sung, C., Yasuoka, M., & Niemec M. R. (2022). Character strengths across disabilities: An international exploratory study and implications for positive psychiatry and psychology Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.863977
Vasileiou, D., Moraitou, D., Papaliagkas, V., Pezirkianidis, C., Stalikas, A., Papantoniou, G., & Sofologi, M. (2021). The relationships between character strengths and subjective wellbeing: Evidence from Greece under lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20), 10868. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010868
Voukouti, S., Moraitou, D., & Pezirkianidis, C. (2025). The role of transcendence in adult wellbeing. Hellenic Journal of Psychology, 22(2), 224-244. https://doi.org/10.26262/hjp.v22i2.10289
Wagner, L., Gander, F., Proyer, R. T., & Ruch, W. (2020). Character strengths and PERMA: Investigating the relationships of character strengths with a multidimensional framework of well-being. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 15(2), 307-328. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-018-9695-z
Wagner, L., Pindeus, L., & Ruch, W. (2021). Character strengths in the life domains of work, education, leisure, and relationships and their associations with flourishing. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 597534. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.597534
Wang, T., Mo, L., Mo, C., Tan, H. L., Cant, S. J., Zhong, L., & Cupchik G. (2014). Is moral beauty different fro facial beauty? Evidence from an fMRI study. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 10(6), 814–823. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsu123
Watkins, P. C., Woodward, K., Stone, T., & Kolts, R. L. (2003). Gratitude and happiness: Development of a measure of gratitude, and relationships with subjective well-being. Social Behavior and Personality: an International Journal, 31(5), 431-451. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2003.31.5.431
Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(6), 1063-1070. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063
Wen, X., Xiang, Y., Cant, S. J., Wang, T., Cupchik, R., Huang, R., & Mo, L. (2017). The neural correlates of internal and external comparisons: An fMRI study. Brain Structure and Function, 222(1), 563-575. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-016-1234-9
Williams, J. & Kumar, A. (2023). Mediating role of self-concept on character strengths and well-being among adolescents with specific learning disorder in India. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 132, 104372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104372
Yaden, D. B., Kaufman, S. B., Hyde, E., Chirico, A., Gaggioli, A., Zhang, J. W., & Keltner, D. (2019). The development of the Awe Experience Scale (AWE-S): A multifactorial measure for a complex emotion. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 14(4), 474-488. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2018.1484940
Most read articles by the same author(s)