The effects of selected classical music on self-disclosure

A cognitive theory of emotion and aesthetics in music suggests that listeni ng to music is cognitively and in turn emotionally arousing. In addition a theory of inhibition and psychosomatic disease suggests that disclosing per sonal and traumatic information is psychologically and physically beneficia l. This study examined the effect of music within a disclosure setting on t he use of cognitive and emotional language in 85 undergraduates. Participan ts in both the background music and no music conditions wrote or spoke into a tape recorder, about the most significant event or experience of their l ives. In addition to language, self-reported moods, subject impressions abo ut the disclosure experience, and the environment were examined. Results in dicate that background music had an effect on the disclosure topics chosen, promoted cognitive suggestion and expression, and increased the enjoyment of listening to classical music.