ATLAS Colloquium: Engineering social interactions through music and interpersonal synchrony

Abstract: A growing body of research highlights the potential of music and interpersonal synchrony to enhance social and emotional interactions. Musical interaction—particularly when individuals collaboratively make music—has been linked to increased group cohesion, cooperation, and emotional empathy. Similarly, interpersonal synchrony, where individuals coordinate their movements or actions, has been shown to foster social bonding, trust, and emotional connection. These positive outcomes are well-documented, and understanding the underlying mechanisms offers valuable insights into their broader social significance. However, despite the extensive literature on their benefits, relatively few studies address potential negative consequences associated with musical engagement and synchrony. Concerns include the possibility of fostering blind obedience, conformism, reduced creativity, or even aggression toward out-group members under certain conditions. This duality suggests that musical and rhythmic interactions may not be inherently beneficial but are influenced by contextual and sociocultural factors. In this talk, I will explore the theoretical frameworks explaining the mechanisms behind these dual outcomes, integrating sociological perspectives to elucidate how and when music and synchrony promote positive or negative social effects. I will present empirical evidence supporting these notions, including recent preliminary data from ongoing experiments in my lab. These findings contribute to understanding the conditions that enhance the beneficial impacts of musical and rhythmic engagement on social cohesion while mitigating potential drawbacks. I will also discuss future research and specifically the potential of incorporating new technologies in this kind of behavioral research.

Bio: Dr. Tal-Chen Rabinowitch is an associate professor at the School of Creative Arts Therapies, the director of the "Music & Social Development Lab" at the University of Haifa, and currently a visiting scholar at the ATLAS Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder. She is deeply interested in understanding the role music plays in children's social and emotional development. She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Musicology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a B.Mus in flute performance from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. She then completed her Master's in Music Cognition at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, followed by a PhD at the Centre for Music and Science at the University of Cambridge. Her Postdoctoral training included work at the labs of Professors Ariel Knafo (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) and Andrew Meltzoff (Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, University of Washington). She returned to Israel and to the University of Haifa during 2018.

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