The effects of music and painting on mood

Author(s): Zalanowski, A. H., Multiple-Affect-Adjective-Check-List.

Journal/Book: Journal of Music Therapy. 1989; 26: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. National Association for Music Therapy 8455 Colesville Rd., Suite 930 20910 Silver Spring, Maryland USA. 30-41.

Abstract: In this study, the ability of music and paintings to change mood was studied. The moods of depression and positive affect were measured using the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List, before and after subjects were presented with music alone, paintings alone, or music paired with paintings. Neither music nor paintings alone significantly altered mood. Music and paintings paired did have significant effects, however, with the mood change always going in the direction of the music. Thus, depressing music paired with either a depressing or pleasant painting increased depression and decreased positive affect, and pleasant music paired with either painting had the opposite effect. Music appears to be dominant in determining the direction of mood change, but music alone does not produce the change. It is suggested that stimuli that allow cognitive appraisal are necessary to create a strong mood change.

Keyword(s): music, painting, mood, mood-responses, depression, affect, affective-response.

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