Effects of natural sound tempo and social conditions on social Interaction: An interactive virtual experiment

Although natural sounds are widely known to positively affect human well-being, the influence of natural sound tempo, a potentially significant factor in shaping emotional and behavioral responses, remains underexplored within environmental psychology. This study examines the impact of the tempo of natural sounds on individuals' willingness for social interaction using a virtual site tour approach. Scenarios were created in Unity 3D, incorporating environmental sounds like birdsong and water fountains typically found in urban parks. Participants freely explored the simulated site and interacted with non-player characters, with their behaviors recorded. Their personal social condition, evaluations of the sound environment, and willingness for social interaction were assessed through questionnaires. This study found that faster water sound tempos significantly increased the willingness for social interaction among individuals with medium to high levels of personal social condition. However, changes in birdsong tempo had no significant effect on social interaction willingness. Participants with higher levels of social condition showed over 11 % greater willingness for social interaction and more positive evaluations of the sound environment. These findings highlight the role of sound tempo in influencing social behaviors, which may contribute to the development of environmental psychology and offer practical insights for urban soundscape design. • Faster water sound tempos in urban parks increase willingness for social interactions. • Birdsong tempo has no significant influence on willingness for social interactions. • Higher personal social conditions increase sound environment ratings and boost social interaction willingness by over 11 %. • The interactive virtual experiment allowed participants to explore the site and interact with NPCs.