The effects of music tempo on number of bites per minute and total time of meal were studied. Eleven subjects unknowingly participated in the study. Three music conditions were used: fast tempo, slow tempo, and no music. A significant increase in the number of bites per minute was found; the effect was largest for fast-tempo music, which suggests arousal as a possible mediator. No difference was found in total time of meal. A questionnaire revealed no evidence that subjects were aware of the music.In the past, different types of music have been found to have different effects upon emotions, physiological reactions, and behavior. Smith and Morris (1976) reported that during a cognitive task , "stimulative" music maintained an elevated emotionality level, whereas "sedative" and control group means decreased. Stimulative music has been reported to increase pupil dilation, whereas sedative music has caused pupil constriction (Slaughter, 1957). Even purchasing behavior is affected by different types of music. Milliman (1982), studying purchasing behavior and speed of movement through a grocery store, found that the tempo of background music significantly affected both the pace of in-store traffic flow and sales volume. Traffic flow was found to be significantly slower with slow-tempo music than with fast-tempo music . The nomusic condition did not differ significantly from either . However, higher sales volumes were found with slowtempo music than with fast-tempo music. Randomly selected customers were asked outside the supermarket whether they recalled music playing while they were shopping. Interestingly, Milliman's subjects failed to reveal any significant variations in music awareness; that is, subjects were no more and no less likely to recall the music, regardless of the music condition.Milliman's (1982) research suggests the possibility that music tempo influences the speed of other behaviors , with fast-tempo music having an increasing effect and slowtempo having a decreasing effect relative to a no-music treatment as a baseline of behavior. A setting in which music is encountered but frequently is not attended to is that of a restaurant or cafeteria. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of music tempo on eating behavior in such a setting . The following hypotheses were tested:(1) Fast-tempo music would result in an increase in eating speed, whereas slow-tempo music would result in aThe authors are grateful to James D. Fitzpatrick for his cooperation during the course of the study. Requests for reprints should be addressed to Elizabeth B. Gardner, Department of Psychology, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT 06430-7524. decrease in eating speed, both relative to the no-music condition.(2) Subjects in either music condition would be no more likely to express an awareness of the music being played than would subjects in the no-music condition. In other words , the music would affect behavior without the subjects' being aware.
METHOD
SubjectsThere were 11 subjects (10 men, I woman), rangi...
