Who Tends to Appreciate Atonal Music? Higher Perceived Personal Control Leads to an Increased Inclination to Prefer Atonal Music

Junfeng Liu, Shen-Long Yang and Feng Yu
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Junfeng Liu: Music Education Centre, School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Shen-Long Yang: Institute of Social Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Feng Yu: Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: Research on the aesthetic experience of music has largely focused on tonal music, while relatively less is known about individuals’ differences in the aesthetic experience of atonal music. According to the compensatory control theory, we hypothesized that perceived personal control significantly and positively predicted individuals’ tendency to prefer atonal music, while the need for structure played a mediating role. The present research investigated who tends to prefer atonal music, and why. A sample of college students listened to atonal music and completed questionnaires on perceived personal control, the need for structure, and their aesthetic judgment of the music. Our analysis showed that individuals with higher perceived personal control exhibited a stronger tendency to prefer atonal music, compared with those who had lower perceived control; moreover, the need for structure played a mediating role between perceived control and aesthetic experience of atonal music. These results revealed which audience was suitable for atonal music and extended the explanatory scope of the compensatory control theory. The theoretical and practical implications and limitations of these findings are discussed.

Keywords: atonal music; perceived control; need for structure; compensatory control theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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