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Music for the Seasons: Seasonal Music Preferences in College Students

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Abstract

The present research examined music preferences in relation to the seasons: fall, winter, spring, and summer. Across two studies, male and female college students (N = 232 and 199) were primed to think about the seasons and indicate their music preference from Rentfrow and Gosling’s (2003) music classification scheme. Participants were predicted to prefer reflexive and complex music when primed with fall/winter and energetic and rhythmic and upbeat and conventional music when primed with spring/summer. Study 1 had participants read winter or summer season scenarios and Study 2 had participants write their own fall, winter, spring, or summer seasonal experiences. Overall, results were consistent with predictions for the reflexive and complex and energetic and rhythmic classifications, indicating an environmental influence of musical preferences.

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Correspondence to Terry F. Pettijohn II.

Appendix

Appendix

Summer and Winter Seasonal Condition Scenarios, Study 1

Summer Seasonal Condition Scenario

It is the middle of July, and you wake up to the sounds of birds chirping. Although you need to go to work, it is a beautiful Saturday and the sun is shining. You wake up, shower, eat breakfast, hop into your car and your day has begun. You roll your windows down to catch a cool breeze in your warm car on the way to work. After a long day at work, you return home to have a quick dinner, and then you’re back out to meet up with some friends at the park. After an enjoyable afternoon outside with your friends, you all decided to go out for some ice cream to cool off. After ice cream, you decide to go back to a friend’s house and take a late night dip in the pool to relax, a perfect end to a warm summer day.

Winter Seasonal Condition Scenario

It is middle of January. The snow is piled high and the wind is blowing hard, which makes the frigid temperatures even colder. As you bundle up for your short walk to class, you notice that the sidewalks are covered with ice and snow drift. Reluctantly, you leave you apartment and make your way to your Tuesday morning class. On the way, the wind blows snow in your face and as you look up, you see that the sky is grey. After class, you return back to your apartment to eat lunch before you go to work. You get bundled back up to go scrape and warm up your car before your departure. On your drive to work, you take extra precaution due to slow traffic and icy conditions. After work, you return home to take a warm shower and settle in for some studying in your room. After a long day you crawl into bed, pull your blankets in tight, and call it a night.

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Pettijohn, T.F., Williams, G.M. & Carter, T.C. Music for the Seasons: Seasonal Music Preferences in College Students. Curr Psychol 29, 328–345 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-010-9092-8

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