The mind meets the museum: A psychology-based design framework for enhancing museum experiences

Museums represent one of the primary cultural attractions worldwide. Over the last decade, they have undergone a significant transformation in their societal role, driven by increasing recognition of their potential to promote psychophysiological well-being. This conceptual paper aims to: i) provide an integrative synthesis of current interdisciplinary theoretical and empirical literature on the psychological processes that both shape and are shaped by the museum experience; ii) propose a psychologically grounded design framework organized across four core dimensions (sensory-perceptual, emotional, cognitive, and motivational); and iii) offer practice-oriented considerations to support reflective and context-sensitive decision-making in the design of museum experiences and environments. Building on literature from psychology, neuroscience, and museum studies, the paper advances a cohesive theoretical framework that integrates these perspectives and provides a conceptual scaffold for exploring the psychological dimensions of the museum experience. • Museums can be designed as psychologically supportive environments that enhance visitor wellbeing. • A psychology-based framework integrates sensory-perceptual, emotional, cognitive, and motivational dimensions. • Visitor experience is shaped by multisensory design, emotional engagement, and meaning-making processes. • Extended Reality technologies can amplify engagement and positive emotions when strategically applied. • Evidence-based design strategies can foster inclusive, reflective, and transformative museum experiences.