Responses to music in a dining area

Author(s): Hargreaves, D. J.

Journal/Book: J Appl Soc Psychol. 1996; 26: 7961 Eastern Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910. V H Winston & Sons Inc. 491-501.

Abstract: Berlyne's theory of aesthetic response was tested in an ecologically valid setting by playing music in a university cafeteria. Four music conditions were employed representing low, high, and moderate complexity new age music, and moderate complexity mechanical organ music. Response measures were how readily diners cited the music as an aspect of the environment which they might like to change, and how much they liked the music. Liking for the new age extracts was consistent with Berlyne's theory, although liking for the moderate complexity mechanical organ music indicated that factors other than complexity may also determine musical preference. As dislike became more extreme, music became more salient as a feature of the environment that subjects might like to change.

Note: Article AC North, Univ Leicester, Dept Psychol, Mus Res Grp, Univ Rd, Leicester LE1 7RH, Leics, England

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