Abstract
The positive prosocial outcomes of interpersonal synchronisation, as well as the contribution of social skills in attaining synchronisation with others, are commonly explored independently, overlooking the possibility of a simultaneous bidirectional relationship between musical and social behaviour. In this food and paper presentation, I will focus on the relationship between empathy and interpersonal synchronisation and discuss a theoretical framework proposing that during musical
group interactions, empathy and synchronisation create a positive feedback loop, enhancing one another in a reciprocal and simultaneous manner. I will talk about how I have empirically approached this feedback loop, providing an overview of the studies constituting this current PhD project, some preliminary findings, as well as my plans for future research on the topic.
Bio:
Persefoni Tzanaki is a Music Psychology PhD researcher at the University of Sheffield (UK) and a member of the Music Mind Machine research centre (led by Professor Renee Timmers). She is currently completing an 8-week research visit at RITMO, working on a music and empathy project with Dr Jonna Vuoskoski. Persefoni’s research focuses on the link between empathy and interpersonal synchronisation in interactions between musically untrained adults and children. She is also interested in the use of music as a tool to support the rehabilitation and therapy of physical disabilities. Parallel to her PhD, she has been working on a research project evaluating the feasibility of a piano-based occupational therapy programme aiming to improve hand function and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. The project is funded by the Children’s Hospital Charity in Sheffield and is conducted in collaboration with the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) at the University of Sheffield. Read more about Persefoni on her webpage.