Abstract
This paper discussed the construct of evaluation in a combined environment of visual and auditory stimuli. In particular, we pointed out the relationship between a harmonious sensation of the two stimuli and comprehensive comfortableness. Ten subjects were asked to rate the image of twenty scenes on slides and sounds. In Experiment 1, they rated the individual image of each stimulus and in Experiment 2, they rated the combined image of the scene and sound. As a result of the experiments it became clear that the effect of a harmonious sensation on comprehensive comfortableness is not direct, but works indirectly through the evaluations “Calming” or “Pleasant.” This indirect evaluation mechanism changes according to comfortableness of the combined stimuli. In a combination in which both stimuli are felt to be uncomfortable, although the stimuli are in harmony with each other, they are not felt to be “Calming” or “Pleasant,” and therefore the comprehensive comfortableness is not high. On the other hand, when a comfortable stimulus is included, or when there is a great difference between the visual comfortableness and the auditory comfortableness, the harmony of the scene and sound caused the “Calmness” or “Pleasantness,” and these combined stimuli are felt to be comfortable.
