The development of emotional responses to music in young children

Author(s): Worrall, L., Sarge, A.

Journal/Book: Motiv Emotion. 1996; 20: 233 Spring St, New York, NY 10013. Plenum Publ Corp. 341-348.

Abstract: Children aged 3 to 4 and 7 to 8 years listened to eight tunes which were either in the major or minor mode and either unaccompanied melody or harmonized For each tune children selected one of two schematic faces chosen to depict happy or sad facial expressions. Children. 7 to 8 years old showed a significant major-happy and minor-sad connotation, which was also shown by adults. However 3 to 4 year-olds did not show any such significant association between musical mode and emotional response. Harmonic accompaniment significantly increased the frequency of happy responses. The results support the idea of a learned association between mode and emotional response.

Note: Article Gregory AH, Univ Manchester, Dept Psychol, Manchester M13 9PL, Lancs, ENGLAND

Keyword(s): MAJOR MINOR DISTINCTION; PERCEPTION

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