The effect of music on differences in body movement of college music majors, dance majors, and survivors of sexual abuse

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there would be differences between the mannerisms and body language of the three subject groups: music majors (n = 23), dance majors (n = 23), and victims of sexual abuse (n = 23). Each of the subjects moved to a variety of music selections individually in the experiment room. They then completed a self-report questionnaire pertaining to inhibition and relaxation experienced in responding to the three pieces. The experimenter videotaped their movement, and assessed specific movement patterns: how much of the body was used, how much tension the subject showed, whether or not the response was indirect or repeated patterns, and if the motions were of an outward or inward nature. Three-way analyses of variance were run on the results of the questionnaire and on movement characteristics. Results showed statistically significant differences in the interaction of subjects and music. The sexual trauma group was much less inhibited moving to the orchestral music than to reggae or jazz, as were the music students. The dance students reported feeling more relaxed with jazz.