Music and Empathy – a Mutual Cognitive Pathway?
Duration: 37 mins 27 secs
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About this item
Description: | Tal-Chen Rabinowitch (University of Cambridge), Faculty of Music Colloquium, May 5, 2010. |
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Created: | 2010-05-19 13:27 |
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Collection: | Faculty of Music Colloquia |
Publisher: | University of Cambridge |
Copyright: | Tal-Chen Rabinowitch |
Language: | eng (English) |
Distribution: | World (downloadable) |
Keywords: | Music; Empathy; cognitive pathway; |
Explicit content: | No |
Abstract: | Is there a unique link between music and empathy? Various cognitive mechanisms are involved in the perception of music and its production. Several of these very same mechanisms may also be important for empathy. We developed a theoretical model describing the process of emotional perception of music and how music may create shared intentionality, leading, under certain conditions to an experience of intersubjectivity amongst players. To explore the extent to which the experience and skills acquired in music can be transferred to empathy in real life situations we conducted a year-long study that consisted of a special musical programme intended for children, consisting of musical games and tasks designed to encourage certain musical features that are predicted to positively influence empathy. In particular, we explored the children's emotional reactions to one specific mechanism, entrainment. The results show a clear enhancement in the capacity for empathy in children that participated in the musical programme and reveal possible links between music, entrainment and empathy.
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