Changing perceptions : interpretation of songs versus lyrics with a domestic violence theme : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
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Date
2011
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Massey University
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Abstract
Listening to songs is a frequent activity for many people in Western societies. Not only
are people exposed to songs in a variety of places, but many people increasingly choose to
listen to songs. Some songs are popular despite the antisocial or prosocial nature of the
lyrics on important societal topics, such as domestic violence. However, both music and
lyrics have the power to communicate, and are processed by the human brain at a complex
and detailed level. Of interest to the present study is whether people perceive song
narratives and messages differently across these two presentations. The present study
explored whether people change their perception of songs with domestic violence content
as promoting or opposing domestic violence, when listening to the song compared to
reading the lyrics without music. Primarily, the present study aimed to explore the selfreported
reasons for changes in song interpretation and perception between the two
presentations. Twenty-seven adults (18 females and 9 males), aged between 18 and 65
years, participated in the study. Participants were recruited from both the community and a
university in Auckland, New Zealand. A survey research design was used to obtain data in
relation to each of eight songs with domestic violence content, and a mixed-method of
quantitative and qualitative analyses were employed to analyse the data. The data from the
present study showed few statistically significant differences in perceptions between the
presentations of song versus lyrics in relation to the potentially prosocial and antisocial
domestic violence content of songs. However, qualitative analyses showed that the
interpretation of song narratives and messages involves information perceived from both
music and lyrics, which can influence the perception of songs. The study also found that
incongruence between music and lyrics can result in softer perceptions of antisocial lyrics.
Thus, people may not find antisocial messages in songs objectionable when the music of
those songs is pleasant. Implications for future research are discussed.
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Keywords
Lyrics, Songs, Psychological aspects of music, Domestic violence, Violence in music, Violent lyrics, Music interpretation