Table of Contents
Exposure to violent video games is linked to negative outcomes such as reduced empathy for the plight of others. No research has investigated whether violent music exposure has similar effects. The present study investigated whether fans of violent-music show reduced empathic reactions to aggression when compared to non-fans of violent music. 108 participants self identified as fans of violent heavy/death metal, classical or jazz music (n=36 per group). Participants were presented with a random selection of vignettes that described a primary character's reaction ('aggressor') to a secondary character's irritating action ('instigator'). The aggressor's reaction was non-aggressive, mildly aggressive or strongly aggressive. After reading each vignette, participants rated state empathic concern (other-oriented empathy) and personal distress (self-oriented concern) in response to the aggressor's reaction. They also completed measures of trait empathic concern and personal distress, and a questionnaire about the perceived social functions of music. It was hypothesised that when compared to violent music non-fans, fans would report lower trait empathy and reduced state empathic concern and personal distress in response to the aggressive reactions. As predicted, fans of violent-music reported significantly lower trait empathic concern when compared to classical and jazz fans. However, state empathic concern and personal distress in response to the aggressive reactions did not significantly differ between groups. Finally, social bonding was a stronger motivation for violent music fans to listen to their respective music genre compared to fans of classical music. Results are discussed in light of cognitive and behavioural consequences of desensitisation to media violence and pre-existing individual differences between fans of different musical genres.Notes
Theoretical thesis.
Bibliography: pages 59-67Awarding Institution
Macquarie UniversityDegree Type
Thesis MResDegree
MRes, Macquarie University, Faculty of Human Sciences, Department of PsychologyDepartment, Centre or School
Department of PsychologyYear of Award
2017Principal Supervisor
Bill ThompsonAdditional Supervisor 1
Kirk OlsenRights
Copyright Aimy Slade 2017.
Copyright disclaimer: http://mq.edu.au/library/copyrightLanguage
EnglishExtent
1 online resource (viii, 83 pages) illustrationsFormer Identifiers
mq:71793
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/1278161
