The influence of music on prosocial behaviors and its mechanisms

Subjects: Psychology >> Cognitive Psychology Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-01

Junpeng Li Linshu Zhou Jun Jiang Danni Wang Cunmei Jiang

Abstract： The value of music in human evolution may be attributed to its social functions. Research has shown that both music listening and joint music-making foster prosocial behaviors and the development of prosocial skills. In order to explain these effects, we propose a theoretical model, suggesting that music enhances individuals’ empathy and positive emotional experiences through emotional contagion, while the entrainment effect of rhythm facilitates interpersonal synchrony. Furthermore, the interaction between emotional contagion and rhythmic entrainment can further enhance the prosocial effects of music. Oxytocin, the endogenous opioid system, the dopamine reward system, and auditory-motor coupling may serve as potential neurobiological foundations for the prosocial effects of music. Future research could employ the multi-pathway theoretical model to examine the prosocial effect of music and its mediating mechanisms, providing further evidence for the music-social bonding hypothesis.

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