Assessing the Perception of Architectural Stimuli Based on Personality Types: An Eye-Tracking Study

Visual stimuli have a profound impact on the inhabitants of architectural spaces, although individuals’ susceptibility to these stimuli varies. Thought patterns in receiving and interpreting information manifest as aspects of personality. This study evaluates the relationship between personality types and the perception of visual architectural stimuli. The aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between thought patterns and architectural preferences. In the initial phase, eleven environmental factors were selected. Participants (N = 58) completed the MBTI personality type index test. Subsequently, images of architectural spaces were presented to them, and eye-tracking (ET) indicators were recorded while they viewed the images. Raw data were collected using MATLAB software. Both ANOVA and correlation analyses were conducted in SPSS 27.0. Significant correlations and effect sizes were found between ET indicators and personality types (r = 0.64–0.91; η² = 0.45–0.68), revealing distinct perceptual patterns among the bipolar personality types. The findings highlight how personality-based information-processing tendencies shape architectural preferences and provide useful guidance for designing psychologically responsive spaces.