Is empathy involved in our emotional response to music? The role of the PRL gene, empathy, and arousal in response to happy and sad music.

Sittler, Mareike C.; Cooper, Andrew; Montag, Christian

doi:10.1037/pmu0000230

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Encouragingly, the current results suggested that optional music training fostered ME with the Chinese participants recruited from the general population (Table 3). Previous researchers recommended adopting music training to help clinical cohorts with empathy deficiency (Dahary et al, 2018; Sittler et al, 2019). Apparently, optional music training is practical and financially manageable for these clinical patients over professional music training.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fourth, no re-test was conducted in this study, and the reliability of the ME was unclear. Fifth, besides demographic and psychological variables covered by the current study, further researchers may like to explore biomarkers of ME, such as participants’ prolactin level (Huron, 2011) and their PRL’s genetic polymorphisms (Sittler et al, 2019). Finally, to illuminate an entire image of Baron-Cohen’s E-S theory on music, a validation of MS in China is imperative in the future.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Music empathy consists of two main components: emotional music empathy (i.e., the automatic physical and affective reactions toward music, or the “felt” emotion of music; Sittler et al, 2019) and cognitive music empathy (i.e., the emotional understanding and perspective-taking of music/musicians, or the “perceived” emotions of music; Sittler et al, 2019). ME (9-item) is composed of one item of emotional music empathy (i.e., ME05, “ I often experience physical sensations such as tears, shivers, etc.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Validation of the Music Empathizing inventory in China

Zhao

Zhang

et al. 2021

Psychology of Music

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The current study aims to cross-culturally validate the Music Empathizing (ME) inventory in China. In total, 515 Chinese participants completed the Chinese version of ME in tandem with two supporting scales, namely, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the Music USE (MUSE) questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analyses, correlation analyses, t-tests, and multiple regressions were conducted. The current results illustrated an innovative structural model for ME (i.e., the Agreement–Disagreement model), revealed significant predictors of ME (i.e., optional music training, interpersonal empathy, and the affective and social reasons for approaching music), and indicated a non-significant sex difference in ME with the Chinese participants. To conclude, the current study showed the validity of ME in evaluating music empathy in a Chinese setting. More importantly, since the previous studies of ME were restricted to Western populations, the current study presented the first observation of ME in Asian cultures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Validation of the Music Empathizing inventory in China

Zhao

Zhang

et al. 2021

Psychology of Music

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“…For example, a previous study investigated a smaller subsample in relation to associations between oxytocin receptor genetics and the IRI and the AQ (28). Moreover, the IRI was also investigated in a recent experimental study on music perception in n = 160 participants from the UGBBP (33).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Empathy, Autistic Tendencies, and Systemizing Tendencies—Relationships Between Standard Self-Report Measures

2019

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The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between four highly used self-report measures assessing empathy (measured as both a unidimensional and multidimensional construct), autistic tendencies, and systemizing tendencies. Participants in this study completed the following self-report measures: The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the Empathy Quotient (EQ) to measure empathy, and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Systemizing Quotient–Revised (SQ-R) to assess autistic and systemizing tendencies, respectively. The final sample consisted of N = 1,098 participants (304 males) without a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder, most of whom were university students. The IRI scale “Perspective Taking” and the EQ were negatively related to the AQ in male and female participants, while the IRI scale “Empathic Concern” was negatively related to the AQ in females only. Moreover, the AQ was positively related to the SQ-R in females only. Lastly, the SQ-R and a number of the empathy scales were significantly associated: For example and surprisingly, the EQ correlated weakly and positively with the SQ-R in both male and female participants. The results from this study illustrate how standard self-report measures of empathy, autistic tendencies, and systemizing tendencies are associated with each other in a large sample not diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, some potential gender-specific effects are revealed.

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“…The second line of research, starting from the idea that music can be seen as a specific type of creative thinking (Antonietti and Colombo, 2014), suggests that empathy influences the appreciation of performing and creative arts, including music (Wöllner, 2012). This could be linked to the fact that the performance of music, as it is true of creative activities, as discussed above, is claimed to be a social activity, and hence, even just listening to music has been shown to involve empathy (Cross et al, 2012;Wöllner, 2012;Balteş and Miu, 2014;Sittler et al, 2019). To be more specific, Kawakami and Katahira (2015) reported that fantasy and perspective taking, two sub-components of trait empathy assessed by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) questionnaire, are correlated with the emotional response to sad music.…”

Section: Introduction Theoretical Background On the Mirror Neuron Systemmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Role of the Mirror System in Influencing Musicians’ Evaluation of Musical Creativity: A tDCS Study

et al. 2021

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Evidence reported in the literature suggests that the mirror system not only plays a role in recognizing motor action but also fosters a better understanding of other people because it helps an individual assume another’s perspective. This led to the idea, supported by research findings, that people with higher empathy scores should show higher activation of the mirror system. Recently, it has been hypothesized that a purely auditory mirror system exists. In this study, we aimed to explore the possibility that this system might play a particular role for musicians. Specifically, this system would impact their response to a new piece of music by using non-invasive brain stimulation to modulate the activation of the mirror system. A sample of 40 young musicians was involved in this study. Half of the participants were randomly assigned to a cathodal stimulation condition, while the other half was used as a control. After listening to a new piece of music, participants were asked to rate the creativity of the piece (by focusing on how interesting, innovative, and exciting the piece was) as well as their general emotional response to it. Their empathy levels were also assessed using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Results showed that the cathodal stimulation of the mirror system negatively affected both the perception of creativity (level of innovation) and the emotional response to the music. There was no significant difference in the ratings of how interesting the piece was perceived. The effect was mediated by the individuals’ level of empathy. Specifically, empathic concern and fantasy dimensions increased the evaluation of creativity. Results also showed that participants reported less emotion with a negative valence in the cathodal stimulation condition.

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Is empathy involved in our emotional response to music? The role of the PRL gene, empathy, and arousal in response to happy and sad music.

Abstract: The version presented here may differ from the published, performed or presented work. Please go to the persistent GRO record above for more information.

Cited by 5 publications

References 58 publications

Validation of the Music Empathizing inventory in China

Validation of the Music Empathizing inventory in China

Empathy, Autistic Tendencies, and Systemizing Tendencies—Relationships Between Standard Self-Report Measures

The Role of the Mirror System in Influencing Musicians’ Evaluation of Musical Creativity: A tDCS Study

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