Shaping kindness: Does symmetry in architecture promote prosocial behavior?

The aesthetic of our surrounding environment has a significant impact on our behavior. According to the S-O-R model, specific features characterizing the environment act as stimuli (S) that affect the internal states of people - organisms (O)-, which, in turn, drive their behavioral responses (R). Specifically, engaging with aesthetically appealing environments has been found to potentially promote positive normative outcomes such as prosocial behaviors. The present study investigates if architectural façades characterized by a specific feature typically associated with beauty - symmetry - can promote prosocial behavior compared to façades characterized by asymmetry, by applying the S-O-R model. To do so, in a within-subject design study, two sets of 360° virtual scenarios portraying both symmetric and asymmetric architectural façades were presented to 40 participants in a randomized order. Following each set of façades, participants were asked to complete an additional self-report questionnaire measuring their aesthetic emotions and to participate in a dictator game, aimed at measuring prosocial behavior. Results revealed that participants donated a larger amount of money to the recipient following the exposure to scenarios featuring symmetric façades compared to those characterized by asymmetry. However, the role of aesthetic emotions, as theorized by the S-O-R model, in mediating the perception of symmetry and the prosocial behavior was not fully confirmed.