The Effects of Music and Paintings on Mood

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Abstract
Although difficult to define precisely, mood is frequently the focus of manipulation attempts. In this study, the ability of music and paintings to change mood was studied. The moods of depression and positive affect were measured using the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL) before and after subjects were presented with music alone, paintings alone, or music paired with paintings. The music and paintings used were chosen to reflect the mood states of depression, positive affect, and neutrality. Neither music nor paintings alone significantly altered mood. Music and paintings paired did have significant effects, however, with the mood change always going in the direction of the music. Thus, depressing music paired with either a depressing or pleasant painting increased depression and decreased positive affect, and pleasant music paired with either painting had the opposite effect. In the paired conditions, pleasantness ratings of the paintings were influenced by mismatched music, while ratings of the music were unaffected by the paintings. Music appears to be dominant in determining the direction of mood change, but music alone does not produce the change. It is suggested that stimuli that allow cognitive appraisal are necessary to create a strong mood change.

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