Individual differences in music-induced interpersonal synchronization and self–other integration: the role of creativity and empathy

It has been demonstrated that moving together in synchrony to music makes us feel connected. Yet, little is known about the individual differences that shape the relationship between interpersonal synchronization to music and social bonding. The present research tests the hypothesis that this associ...

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Main Authors: Adrian Kempf, Pieter-Jan Maes, Canan Gener, Andrea Schiavio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Royal Society 2024-11-01
Series:Royal Society Open Science
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Online Access:https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.240654
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author Adrian Kempf
Pieter-Jan Maes
Canan Gener
Andrea Schiavio
author_facet Adrian Kempf
Pieter-Jan Maes
Canan Gener
Andrea Schiavio
author_sort Adrian Kempf
collection DOAJ
description It has been demonstrated that moving together in synchrony to music makes us feel connected. Yet, little is known about the individual differences that shape the relationship between interpersonal synchronization to music and social bonding. The present research tests the hypothesis that this association is influenced by differences in empathy and creativity–two highly relevant factors in many musical activities. We implemented a synchronization task featuring a virtual drummer and measured self–other integration (SOI), a core component of social bonding. We employed a dual-measurement paradigm, incorporating both an explicit assessment (Inclusion of Other in the Self scale) and an implicit assessment (joint-Simon effect) of SOI. Surprisingly, our analysis did not reveal explicit and implicit measurements correlating, nor were they similarly affected by interpersonal synchronization. This raises questions about the assessment of SOI in interpersonal synchronization experiments. Furthermore, we observed no moderating role of empathy or creativity in the association between interpersonal synchronization and SOI. Nevertheless, we found creativity to correlate with SOI. In light of this finding, we recommend placing greater emphasis on creativity as a decisive factor in the study of musical interaction.
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spelling doaj-art-f3625bdde3d24456bd876ada175f50382024-11-17T19:58:58ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032024-11-01111110.1098/rsos.240654Individual differences in music-induced interpersonal synchronization and self–other integration: the role of creativity and empathyAdrian Kempf0Pieter-Jan Maes1Canan Gener2Andrea Schiavio3Department of Psychology, University of Graz, Glacisstraße 27 , Graz 8010, AustriaInstitute for Psychoacoustics and Electronic Music, Ghent University, Miriam Makebaplein 1 , Ghent B-9000, BelgiumInstitute for Psychoacoustics and Electronic Music, Ghent University, Miriam Makebaplein 1 , Ghent B-9000, BelgiumSchool of Arts and Creative Technologies, University of York , York YO10 5GB, UKIt has been demonstrated that moving together in synchrony to music makes us feel connected. Yet, little is known about the individual differences that shape the relationship between interpersonal synchronization to music and social bonding. The present research tests the hypothesis that this association is influenced by differences in empathy and creativity–two highly relevant factors in many musical activities. We implemented a synchronization task featuring a virtual drummer and measured self–other integration (SOI), a core component of social bonding. We employed a dual-measurement paradigm, incorporating both an explicit assessment (Inclusion of Other in the Self scale) and an implicit assessment (joint-Simon effect) of SOI. Surprisingly, our analysis did not reveal explicit and implicit measurements correlating, nor were they similarly affected by interpersonal synchronization. This raises questions about the assessment of SOI in interpersonal synchronization experiments. Furthermore, we observed no moderating role of empathy or creativity in the association between interpersonal synchronization and SOI. Nevertheless, we found creativity to correlate with SOI. In light of this finding, we recommend placing greater emphasis on creativity as a decisive factor in the study of musical interaction.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.240654interpersonal synchronizationself–other integrationcreativitymusic cognitionempathymixed-reality
spellingShingle Adrian Kempf
Pieter-Jan Maes
Canan Gener
Andrea Schiavio
Individual differences in music-induced interpersonal synchronization and self–other integration: the role of creativity and empathy
Royal Society Open Science
interpersonal synchronization
self–other integration
creativity
music cognition
empathy
mixed-reality
title Individual differences in music-induced interpersonal synchronization and self–other integration: the role of creativity and empathy
title_full Individual differences in music-induced interpersonal synchronization and self–other integration: the role of creativity and empathy
title_fullStr Individual differences in music-induced interpersonal synchronization and self–other integration: the role of creativity and empathy
title_full_unstemmed Individual differences in music-induced interpersonal synchronization and self–other integration: the role of creativity and empathy
title_short Individual differences in music-induced interpersonal synchronization and self–other integration: the role of creativity and empathy
title_sort individual differences in music induced interpersonal synchronization and self other integration the role of creativity and empathy
topic interpersonal synchronization
self–other integration
creativity
music cognition
empathy
mixed-reality
url https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.240654
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AT canangener individualdifferencesinmusicinducedinterpersonalsynchronizationandselfotherintegrationtheroleofcreativityandempathy
AT andreaschiavio individualdifferencesinmusicinducedinterpersonalsynchronizationandselfotherintegrationtheroleofcreativityandempathy