Assessing visitor evaluation of an immersive cathedral experience: applying the Jungian lenses of feeling and thinking.

Psychological type theory differentiates between two contrasting psychological functions relevant for evaluating experience, styled thinking and feeling. The present study encouraged visitors to the pre-Christmas son et lumiere at Liverpool Cathedral, The light before Christmas: The angels are coming, to evaluate their experience through these two lenses. Drawing on data from 978 participants, analysis of qualitative responses to the feeling prompt, 'What most touched your heart?' identified nine themes, including valuing being moved by visual images of the nativity, and valuing the opportunity to light a candle. Analysis of qualitative responses to the thinking prompt, 'What big issues were raised in your mind?' identified eight themes, including reflecting on the importance and meaning of Christmas, and reflecting on the world. These two prompts generated quite different responses, suggesting a complementary and richer evaluation of the total experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]