Music, Love, and a Little Bit of Sweat
Event Type
Research Presentation
Academic Department
Psychology
Location
Dana Science Building, 2nd floor
Start Date
24-4-2026 1:00 PM
End Date
24-4-2026 2:30 PM
Description
Music is a strong stimulus with the power to elicit emotional and neurobiological responses. The present study examined whether music influences an individual's perceived passionate love toward their romantic partners. The eligibility criteria required participants to be currently in a romantic relationship. Participants first completed the Passionate Love Scale (PLS; Hatfield & Sprecher, 1986; α=.91) and then attended an in-person laboratory session five to seven days later. Participants were randomly assigned to a group. In the control group, participants viewed a photograph of their romantic partner while completing the PLS. In the experimental group, participants viewed a photograph of their partner while listening to Flight of the Bumblebee. Physiological response was measured via Galvanic Skin Response (GSR). Data from 19 participants (Mage= 24.9 yrs, SD= 6.4 yrs; 68.4% women; 42.1% heterosexual; 78.9% never married) were analyzed by using the SPSS program. Results from independent T-tests indicated that music was a significant stimulus for increasing physiological arousal; music group (MGSR= 28.28, SDGSR=12.49) and non-music group (MGSR= 16.86, SDGSR=6.13), t(17)=2.37, p = .03. There was no significant difference in PLS scores between the music and non-music groups (t(17)=.61, p=.55). Linear regression analyses revealed that the GSR marginally significantly predicted the PLS for the music group (β=-.45, P=.08), but not for the non-music group (β=.55, P=.49). These findings provide implications that music could aid in potential therapies and overall mental well-being for couples.
Music, Love, and a Little Bit of Sweat
Dana Science Building, 2nd floor
Music is a strong stimulus with the power to elicit emotional and neurobiological responses. The present study examined whether music influences an individual's perceived passionate love toward their romantic partners. The eligibility criteria required participants to be currently in a romantic relationship. Participants first completed the Passionate Love Scale (PLS; Hatfield & Sprecher, 1986; α=.91) and then attended an in-person laboratory session five to seven days later. Participants were randomly assigned to a group. In the control group, participants viewed a photograph of their romantic partner while completing the PLS. In the experimental group, participants viewed a photograph of their partner while listening to Flight of the Bumblebee. Physiological response was measured via Galvanic Skin Response (GSR). Data from 19 participants (Mage= 24.9 yrs, SD= 6.4 yrs; 68.4% women; 42.1% heterosexual; 78.9% never married) were analyzed by using the SPSS program. Results from independent T-tests indicated that music was a significant stimulus for increasing physiological arousal; music group (MGSR= 28.28, SDGSR=12.49) and non-music group (MGSR= 16.86, SDGSR=6.13), t(17)=2.37, p = .03. There was no significant difference in PLS scores between the music and non-music groups (t(17)=.61, p=.55). Linear regression analyses revealed that the GSR marginally significantly predicted the PLS for the music group (β=-.45, P=.08), but not for the non-music group (β=.55, P=.49). These findings provide implications that music could aid in potential therapies and overall mental well-being for couples.
Comments
Under the direction of Dr. Seung-Hee Han.