Music as Emotion: How Mode and Tempo Trigger Feelings and Empathy

音乐通过调式和速度等要素在情绪诱发和共情反应中发挥重要作用。本研究通过两个实验探讨音乐调式和速度对情绪及共情的影响。实验一使用大调和小调音乐结合疼痛情境，发现小调音乐显著诱发悲伤情绪，而大调音乐对高兴情绪的诱发效果不显著。同时，小调音乐显著增强了个体的疼痛共情反应。实验二则考察了音乐调式与速度对情绪和状态共情的影响，结果表明，小调音乐组的状态共情水平显著高于大调组，且慢速音乐组的状态共情水平显著高于快速音乐组。研究结果揭示了音乐调式和速度在情绪诱发和共情反应中的复杂作用，未来研究应进一步探讨文化背景和个体差异对这一过程的影响。Music plays an important role in emotion induction and empathy responses through elements such as mode and tempo. This study explores the effects of music mode and tempo on emotion and empathy through two experiments. Experiment 1 used major and minor tonalities combined with a pain scenario, revealing that minor mode significantly induced sadness, while major mode had no significant effect on inducing happiness. Moreover, minor mode significantly enhanced individuals’ empathy responses to pain. Experiment 2 examined the effects of music mode and tempo on emotion and state empathy. The results showed that the state empathy level in the minor mode group was significantly higher than in the major mode group, and the state empathy level in the slow tempo group was significantly higher than in the fast tempo group. The findings highlight the complex role of music mode and tempo in emotion induction and empathy. Future research should further explore the impact of cultural background and individual differences on this process.