Is empathy and mood connected to the awareness of emotional expression in music
Authors
Tallon, Keeva
Issue Date
2014
Degree
BA (Hons) in Psychology
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights holder
Rights
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate how listener attributes such as empathy and mood will contribute to the perception of different emotions in music. A correlational design was utilised to carry out this study. A total of 110 participants took part; the sample was made up of a convenience sample of psychology students attending Dublin Business School. After completing a set of questionnaires including the researcher devised questionnaire, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and The Cambridge Behavioural Scale participants listened to ten excerpts of classical music. The task required identifying the intensity for the emotional responses on a scale 1 to 5. Analyses showed that there was a positive significant relationship between empathy and highly correct emotion scores. Females were significantly more empathic than males. Positive Affect negative affect scores showed a correlation with the correction perception of emotions in music.