The impact of music on affect during anger inducing drives

Abstract

Driver anger could be potentially harmful for road safety and long-term health. Because of its mood inducing properties, music is assumed to be a potential medium that could prevent anger induction during driving. In the current study the influence of music on anger, mood, skin conductance, and systolic blood pressure was investigated during anger inducing scenarios in a driving simulator. 100 participants were split into five groups: four listened to different types of music (high / low energy in combination with both positive / negative valence) or a no music control. Results showed that anger induction was highest during high energy negative music compared to positive music irrespective of energy level. Systolic blood pressure and skin conductance levels were higher during high energy negative music and no music compared to low energy music. Music was demonstrated to mediate the state of anger and therefore can have positive health benefits in the long run. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.