Visual Cues, Emotional Interpretation, and Consumer Judgment - A Survey-Based Study

Srishti Mehta*

Abstract

In digital consumption environments, consumers are often required to make judgments with limited access to detailed product information. Visual cues such as colour, layout, and overall aesthetic presentation frequently shape first impressions before any analytical evaluation takes place. This study examines how visual and emotional cues influence consumer judgment in low-information contexts. Using a survey-based approach, responses were collected from a generalised group of participants exposed to visually ambiguous stimuli. Participants reported their immediate perceptions related to quality, price expectations, and emotional interpretation. The findings indicate a strong reliance on intuitive, affect-driven judgment, with individuals forming rapid impressions based on visual presentation alone. Emotional responses to the same visual varied widely, highlighting the subjective nature of perception. Grounded in behavioural economics and situated within the contemporary digital landscape of the 2020s, this study underscores the growing role of perception and emotion in consumer decision-making within visually saturated markets.

Keywords

Visual Cues, Emotional Interpretation, Consumer Judgment, Affect-Driven Decision Making, Behavioural Economics, Perception, Digital Consumption, Intuitive Judgment

Corresponding Author

Srishti Mehta*, Independent Researcher, India.

Citation

Srishti, M. (2026). Visual Cues, Emotional Interpretation, and Consumer Judgment - A Survey-Based Study. Glob Consum Intell Rev. 1(1), 01-11.