Effects of songs with prosocial lyrics on prosocial thoughts, affect, and behavior

Greitemeyer, Tobias

doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2008.08.003

Cited by 165 publications

(224 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Based on the present findings, and in concert with previous investigations showing positive effects of television with prosocial content (Mares & Woodard, 2005) and of songs with prosocial lyrics (Greitemeyer, 2009) …”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

“…It may be that exposure to prosocial video games activates prosocialrelated schemas, which in turn alter the interpretation of subsequent information. In fact, Greitemeyer (2009) showed that listening to prosocial (relative to neutral) songs increased the proportion of word completions that were prosocial. This greater accessibility of prosocial thoughts may affect a video game player's interpretation of ambiguous information in that she or he is less likely to interpret cues as aggressive.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Future research may also address whether these effects extend to other media sources, such as songs with prosocial lyrics. In fact, whereas exposure to songs with violent lyrics increased aggressive affect and cognitions (Anderson et al, 2003) and aggressive behavior (Fischer & Greitemeyer, 2006), exposure to songs with prosocial lyrics increased prosocial affect, cognitions, and prosocial behavior (Greitemeyer, 2009). Thus, it is conceivable that songs with prosocial lyrics also reduce antisocial tendencies.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Prosocial video games reduce aggressive cognitions

Greitemeyer

Oßwald

2009

Journal of Experimental Social Psychology

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128

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ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPTProsocial video games and aggressive cognitions 2 AbstractPrevious research has shown that playing violent video games increased aggressive tendencies. However, as pointed out by the General Learning Model (GLM) (Buckley & Anderson, 2006), depending on their content, video games do not inevitably increase but may also decrease aggressive responses. Accordingly, the present research tested the hypothesis that playing prosocial video games decreases aggressive cognitions. In fact, playing a prosocial (relative to a neutral) video game reduced the hostile expectation bias (Experiment 1) and decreased the accessibility of antisocial thoughts (Experiment 2). Thus, these results lend credence to GLMs assumption that the effects of video game exposure depend to a great extent on the content of the game played.Key Words: video games; aggression; media effects ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPTProsocial video games and aggressive cognitions 3 Prosocial video games reduce aggressive cognitionsPlaying video games is becoming more and more popular. According to recent largescale surveys, 70% of homes with children aged 2 to 17 have computers and 68% have video game equipment (Woodard & Gridina, 2000). Whereas children aged 2 to 7 spend an average of 3 to 5 hours a week playing video games (Gentile & Walsh, 2002), 8th and 9th grade students even average 9 hours per week (Gentile, Lynch, Linder, & Walsh, 2004). Overall, 87% of children play video games regularly (Walsh, Gentile, Gieske, Walsh, & Chasco, 2003). Not only children, but also young and middle-aged adults spend a considerable amount of their time playing video games. According to a recent estimate (Gentile & Anderson, 2006), the average age of a video game player is 29. This growing interest in playing video games has raised concerns about the consequences of video game play. In fact, playing video games with violent content may lead to criminal actions (Anderson & Dill, 2000) and physical violence (Gentile et al., 2004), whereas reducing children's exposure to media violence reduces aggressive tendencies (Robinson, Wilde, Navracruz, Haydel, & Varady, 2001). Thus, there is clear evidence that media exposure can be harmful to social relations.But can it be also beneficial? Does video game play not only increase, but may also decrease aggressive tendencies? In the present research, we test the hypothesis that playing prosocial (relative to neutral) video games reduces aggressive cognitions. Effects of Media Exposure on Anti-and Prosocial TendenciesWhen accounting for the effects of exposure to violent media on anti-and prosocial tendencies researchers have predominantly referred to the General Aggression Model (GAM)proposed by Anderson and colleagues (e.g., . According to this model, the aggressive content of violent media evokes aggressive behavior through at least one of three routes: aggressive cognitions, arousal, and affect related to violence. When these variables are activated they affect the processing of new information, which in turn ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT...

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prosocial video games reduce aggressive cognitions

Greitemeyer

Oßwald

2009

Journal of Experimental Social Psychology

Self Cite

128

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“…But these effects may not be limited to video game exposure but also extend to other media sources. For instance, it appears that listening to songs with prosocial, relative to neutral, lyrics increases prosocial thoughts, affect, and behavior (Greitemeyer, 2009a(Greitemeyer, , 2009b. Thus, it is conceivable that prosocial music decreases the experience of schadenfreude.…”

Section: Implications Limitations and Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Playing prosocial video games increases empathy and decreases schadenfreude.

Greitemeyer

Oßwald

Bräuer

2010

Emotion

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Past research provided abundant evidence that exposure to violent video games increases aggressive tendencies and decreases prosocial tendencies. In contrast, research on the effects of exposure to prosocial video games has been relatively sparse. The present research found support for the hypothesis that exposure to prosocial video games is positively related to prosocial affect and negatively related to antisocial affect. More specifically, two studies revealed that playing a prosocial (relative to a neutral) video game increased interpersonal empathy and decreased reported pleasure at another's misfortune (i.e., schadenfreude). These results lend further credence to the predictive validity of the General Learning Model (Buckley & Anderson, 2006) for the effects of media exposure on social tendencies.

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“…For example, Jacob et al (18) found that listening to prosocial song lyrics during the eating period in a restaurant (lunch and dinner) increased patrons' tipping behaviours, in terms of both the proportion of customers leaving a tip and the amount of money they gave per tip. Greitemeyer (2009) showed that exposure to songs with prosocial lyrics fostered prosocial tendencies by increasing prosocial thoughts, affect, and behaviour in different situations (e.g., empathy towards others in need, donations to nonprofit organizations, etc.). However lyrics music and without lyrics has a positive effect on participants' performance, the tracks with lyrics are more motivating for exercise than the same tracks without lyrics (23).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of lyrics in music-exercise performance on perceived exertion

ZAREIAN¹,

BARANIE²

2015

TJSE

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The research aimed to examine the role of lyrics in music on perceived exertion of male and female students during physical activity (running on treadmill). For this purpose, 23 (11 males, 12 females) were selected randomly among volunteered students. The participants underwent physical activity under condition of lyrics music in the first session, same no-lyrics music in the second session and no music in the third session. The test duration was 5 minutes for all participants and their running intensity was in correspondence with 80% of their maximum heart rate. The recovery period between each session was 48 hrs. After each session, the participants specified their rated perceived exertion (RPE) by completing the Borg scale questionnaire. The results of ANOVA revealed that lyrics music had a significant effect on the participants' perceived exertion, but no-lyrics music had no effect on their perceived exertion. With regard to reduction of the perceived exertion rate during the use of lyrics music, it can be concluded that the presence of lyrics in music reduces the participants' perceived exertion and causes the activity time to seem shorter. It can be deduced that the presence of lyrics in music has a significant effect on the improvement of psychological conditions of athletes and their perceived exertion.

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Effects of songs with prosocial lyrics on prosocial thoughts, affect, and behavior

Cited by 165 publications

References 33 publications

Prosocial video games reduce aggressive cognitions

Prosocial video games reduce aggressive cognitions

Playing prosocial video games increases empathy and decreases schadenfreude.

The role of lyrics in music-exercise performance on perceived exertion

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