Positive lyrics can induce empathetic feelings and can create a beneficial impact on listeners,a psychologist has revealed.
To reach his conclusion, Tobias Greitemeyer from the University of Sussex in England conducted a series of tests on groups of students in which those exposed to so-called pro-social music later acted in a more considerate and empathetic way than peers who had listened to songs containing a neutral or apparently meaningless lyric.
In his study, the researcher took groups of students and divided them at random into those who listened individually either to socially conscious songs or those with a neutral message, and then used various ways to measure the apparent effect, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
He then exposed each group of listeners to various scenarios to test their reactions, such as deliberately knocking a cup of pencils from a table.
Those who had listened to songs with a positive message were the quickest to react, as they rushed to pick the pencils up.
Greitemeyer said this proved that pro-social songs had helped to make people more empathetic and considerate.