The Effect of Classical Music on Absorption and Control of Mental Imagery
Burns, Debra - Volume: 7
The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of classical music on the absorption and control of mental imagery. Absorption and control refor to the client's ability to become engaged in the imagery experience and manipulate the imagery as needed. Four conditions (music imagery, music listening, silent imagery, and control) were randomly assigned to four groups of volunteers with a total of 58 participants. The Tellegen Absorption Scale and the Gordon Test of Visual Imagery Control served as pre- and posttests for all groups and
were compared for group changes. There were no statistically significant difforences among the three experimental groups in absorption scores. There were, however, significant differences in absorption among the three experimental groups and the control group. There were no differences in imagery control, although the silent imagery group demonstrated the most change from pre- to posttest. These results may suggest that classical music a.ffocts the likelihood of a person becoming involved in spontaneous imagery experiences, but not a person's ability to manipulate or control imagery.