Unravelling the effects of empathy on social bonding following interpersonal synchrony through music: A mixed-methods approach

Interpersonal synchrony, the coordination of movements between individuals, has been extensively associated with strengthening social bonding. However, less is known about contextual or subjective factors amplifying or hindering these effects. This mixed-methods study examined the impact of trait empathy on the intensity of social bonding experienced following synchrony in active musical engagements, extending previous observations related to passive interactions. Through two experimental tasks and post-experiment interviews, we explored empathy’s effects when non-musicians engage actively or passively in musical interactions with background music varying in tempo. The results associated higher trait empathy with increased social bonding following synchrony with a partner. Although not statistically significant, these effects tended to be modality-dependent, i.e. relying on how one engages in musical interactions. Tempo influenced directly the social bonding experience, potentially due to its impact on participants’ mood. Lastly, interview responses revealed that during their musical interactions, participants attributed mental states to their partners, eliciting affiliation even when synchrony was not attained. Our findings support that, in addition to stimulus-driven responses, the synchrony-bonding link relies on top-down processes shaped by individuals’ trait empathy, preferences and type of musical engagement that significantly influence the perception of synchrony and its ability to evoke social affiliation.