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If music be the food of love, play on: Four ways that music may lead to social connection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 September 2021

Shira Gabriel Open the ORCID record for Shira Gabriel [Opens in a new window]  and
Elaine Paravati
Shira Gabriel
Affiliation:
State University of New York, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY14260, USA. sgabriel@buffalo.edu
Elaine Paravati
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY13323, USA. esparava@buffalo.edu
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Abstract

The hypothesis that music is well suited to facilitate social bonding (Savage et al., target article) is highly consistent with social psychological research on the need to belong. We explore how music is uniquely placed to increase feelings of connections to large collectives by increasing collective effervescence, providing narratives, reminding one of others, and providing social surrogates.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 44 , 2021 , e71
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

The hypothesis that music is well suited to facilitate social bonding (Savage et al., target article) is highly consistent with social psychological research on the need to belong (for a review, see Leary & Gabriel, Reference Leary and Gabrielin press). For decades, social psychologists have argued that human beings evolved complex mechanisms that drive them toward social interaction and away from isolation (Baumeister & Leary, Reference Baumeister and Leary1995). Detecting which activities increase social connections is tricky because the social motivational system is a primitive one and often operates outside of conscious awareness (Gabriel et al., Reference Gabriel, Valenti and Young2016). Based on the compelling arguments laid out by Savage and colleagues and recent research on nontraditional means of maintaining social bonds (e.g., Paravati, Naidu, & Gabriel, Reference Paravati, Naidu and Gabriel2020), we propose that music may play a key and integral role in helping people feel connected via collective effervescence, narratives, reminders of others, and social surrogates.

1. Collective effervescence

Social psychological research suggests that collective bonds form surprisingly easily. People automatically, quickly, and easily assimilate collective identities, even on the basis of the most minimal criteria (Tajfel, Reference Tajfel1970). One of the key ways connections are felt to large groups is through the sense of collective effervescence (Gabriel, Naidu, Paravati, Morrison, & Gainey, Reference Gabriel, Naidu, Paravati, Morrison and Gainey2020). Collective effervescence is the sensation of sacredness and feeling of connection to others that people sometimes experience when in a group activity such as a religious gathering, concert, or wedding. Collective effervescence mediates the effects of group participation on a plethora of positive outcomes (Páez, Rimé, Basabe, Wlodarczyk, & Zumeta, Reference Páez, Rimé, Basabe, Wlodarczyk and Zumeta2015). Experiencing collective effervescence is what leads groups to decrease loneliness, increase positive feelings, and increase spiritual transcendence (Gabriel, Read, Young, Bachrach, & Troisi, Reference Gabriel, Read, Young, Bachrach and Troisi2017; Gabriel et al., Reference Gabriel, Naidu, Paravati, Morrison and Gainey2020).

We propose that music is likely to play a key role in facilitating collective effervescence. Our research suggests that the kinds of events that people describe as causing collective effervescence tend to be ones that involve music, dancing, and rhythmic chanting (Gabriel et al., Reference Gabriel, Read, Young, Bachrach and Troisi2017). Based on this research and the arguments of Savage and colleagues, we propose that music increases the collective effervescence experienced in group gatherings, which then leads to an increased feeling of connection and affiliation.

2. Narratives

Music can also increase feelings of belonging through the narratives that are presented in the lyrics of some songs. Mar and Oatley (Reference Mar and Oatley2008) argue that one core function of narratives is to mentally simulate social interactions, facilitating subsequent social behavior. In addition, identifying with characters while reading a narrative leads to a merging of self with characters (Sestir & Green, Reference Sestir and Green2010; Shedlosky-Shoemaker, Costabile, & Arkin, Reference Shedlosky-Shoemaker, Costabile and Arkin2014), which has the potential to provide social benefits.

Narratives can also serve more immediate demands of the need to belong by filling belongingness needs and protecting against the harmful effects of rejection, social isolation, and loneliness (Derrick, Gabriel, & Hugenberg, Reference Derrick, Gabriel and Hugenberg2009). Narratives lead individuals to psychologically become a part of the collective described within the narrative (Gabriel & Young, Reference Gabriel and Young2011). In other words, when people engage with a narrative, they feel like a member of the group described within the narrative. That feeling increases wellbeing via increased social connections (Gabriel & Young, Reference Gabriel and Young2011). Thus, providing narratives is another way that music can increase feelings of social connection.

3. Reminders of others

Music may also help fill belongingness needs by evoking shared memories (Kornhaber, Reference Kornhaber2020). Nonhuman reminders of actual human relationships, including photographs and letters (e.g., Gardner, Pickett, & Knowles, Reference Gardner, Pickett, Knowles, Williams, Forgas and von Hippel2005), foods associated with loved ones (Troisi & Gabriel, Reference Troisi and Gabriel2011), and pictures of others on Facebook or other social media sites (Nadkarnia & Hofmann, Reference Nadkarnia and Hofmann2012), can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation (Sherman, Reference Sherman1991). Based on existing research and the arguments of Savage and colleagues, we argue that music can remind people of actual relationship partners – people with whom one shared musical experiences – and can thus increase feelings of social connection.

4. Social surrogates

Music may also fill the need to belong through parasocial relationships – one sided bonds with celebrities (Giles, Reference Giles2002; Isotalus, Reference Isotalus1995; Perse & Rubin, Reference Perse and Rubin1989; Rubin & McHugh, Reference Rubin and McHugh1987). People may develop parasocial bonds with the musicians who produce their music. Although people consciously understand that parasocial relationships are not “real” relationships, they are nevertheless experienced as real and often elicit cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses that are similar to those of real relationships (Cohen, Reference Cohen2003; Kanazawa, Reference Kanazawa2002). Bonds with parasocial relationship partners contribute to a sense of social connection and wellbeing (Gabriel et al., Reference Gabriel, Valenti and Young2016). Based on existing research and the arguments of Savage and colleagues, we argue that music can increase feelings of belonging even when used in isolation via listeners' parasocial bonds with musicians.

5. Conclusion

Savage and colleague's thesis that music evolved to communicate and strengthen social connections is highly consistent with social psychological research on belonging. Music is uniquely placed to increase feelings of connections to large collectives by increasing collective effervescence, providing narratives, reminding one of others, and providing social surrogates. As Mehr and colleagues point out, any evolutionary theory requires a certain amount of guess work and conjecture. However, their argument that “music does not directly cause social cohesion: rather, it signals existing social cohesion that was obtained by other means” (sect. 4.2.1, para. 14) is not consistent with existing research. For example, there is evidence that rhythmic synchronization (an important part of music) promotes increased prosocial behavior that comes from an increased sense of social connection (Mogan, Fischer, & Bulbulia, Reference Mogan, Fischer and Bulbulia2017; Rennung & Göritz, Reference Rennung and Göritz2016), and that people who dance with others feel more connected to them, similar to them, and like them more (Tarr, Launay, Cohen, & Dunbar, Reference Tarr, Launay, Cohen and Dunbar2015; Tarr, Launay, & Dunbar, Reference Tarr, Launay and Dunbar2016). In other words, key components of music seem to lead to social connection and not just signal that connection to others. Nonetheless, much more data are necessary to examine the causal link from music to social connection, and we hope that the ideas in this commentary suggest some possible avenues for exploration.

Financial support

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflict of interest

None.

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