Turn that racket down! Physical anhedonia and diminished pleasure from music

Emily C. Nusbaum, Paul J. Silvia, Roger E. Beaty, Chris J. Burgin, Thomas R. Kwapil

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Why do some people not enjoy listening to music as much as others? Two studies explored whether people high in physical anhedonia - an aspect of schizotypy that is associated with reduced pleasure from physical stimuli - are less engaged in the musical world than other people. Study 1 examined individual differences in music engagement and experience. People with higher levels of physical anhedonia reported valuing music less, experiencing fewer aesthetic emotions in response to music, liking fewer genres of music, and having less music experience. Study 2 used experience sampling to examine how individual differences in physical anhedonia predicted music engagement, music listening habits, and the aesthetic experiences of music in everyday life. During a typical week, people with higher levels of physical anhedonia spent less time listening to music. Taken together, these results suggest that as physical anhedonia increases, people become increasingly detached from and disinterested in music.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)228-243
Number of pages16
JournalEmpirical Studies of the Arts
Volume33
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 24 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • chills
  • experience sampling
  • individual differences
  • music
  • physical anhedonia
  • schizotypy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Visual Arts and Performing Arts
  • Music
  • Literature and Literary Theory

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