Music and compliance: Can good music make us do bad things?
Author(s):
Naomi Ziv
Publication Year:
2015
Type:
journal article
Journal/Book Title
Psychology of Music
Publisher
Editor(s):
Pages:
953-966
Volume:
44
Issue:
5
Abstract:
Music is commonly used in various contexts as a means to manipulate people. Two studies examined the effect of positive background music on compliance with a request to harm a third person. In Study 1 participants were asked by a male researcher, in the context of obligatory experiment participation, to call another participant and tell her she could not take part in the study. In Study 2, participants on a voluntary basis were asked by a female researcher to call another student and tell her she would not receive promised course material. In both cases, no justifiable reason for the request was given, other than the researcher “didn’t feel like it.” Compliance rates were higher in both studies when pleasant, familiar music was played than with no music. No effects of mood were found. Results and implications are discussed in terms of the power of music to influence behavior.
Citation (Chicago Author-Date):
Ziv, Naomi. 2015. “Music and Compliance: Can Good Music Make Us Do Bad Things?” Psychology of Music 44 (5): 953–66. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735615598855.