RESPONSES TO MUSIC IN A DINING AREA

Berlyne's theory of aesthetic response was tested in an ecologically v alid setting by playing music in a university cafeteria. Four music co nditions were employed representing low, high, and moderate complexity new age music, and moderate complexity mechanical organ music. Respon se measures were how readily diners cited the music as an aspect of th e environment which they might like to change, and how much they liked the music. Liking for the new age extracts was consistent with Berlyn e's theory, although liking for the moderate complexity mechanical org an music indicated that factors other than complexity may also determi ne musical preference. As dislike became more extreme, music became mo re salient as a feature of the environment that subjects might like to change.