The term 'Differential Affect Gap' was coined by Prof. Denis Burnham, Director of MARCS Auditory Laboratories, UWS, to describe the recent finding that the difference between emotion felt by the listener and emotion thought to be expressed by the music is correlated with the dislike of the music.
The present study presents data that supports the DAG effect, and describes how the DAG effect has been and can be applied as a means of explaining how behviour of individuals and groups can be modified by music.
When the measured difference between the emotion expressed by a piece of music is relatively strong compared to the emotion felt by the listener, a lower preference is associated with the piece than for those pieces where felt and expressed emotions are well matched. Stereotypically, in popular music, songs by Barry Manilow and Barabara Streisand are disliked by some people. The DAG effect suggests that this disllike can be predicted quantitatlvely by rating the felt and perceived emotions and then taking the difference of the ratings. If for the listener too much emotion appears to be expressed, but is not felt, the music will not be liked, or, in this case, be considered 'daggy'. 'Daggy' is also an Australian slang expression that can be translated as 'unfashionable' or 'uncool'.
In social psychology, the dislike and like of music is sometimes attributed to peer group membership. One can feel more part of, or more accepted, into a peer group if they accept the music of that group, and reject the music of the 'out-groups'. The DAG effect, for the first time, provides a possible quantiative, indirect measure of this peer group membership effect through music. An example of its application was reported by ABC Sydney where the Council of Rockdale City (Rockdale is a suburb in Sydney, Australia) played Barry Manilow music over loudspeakers in a car park to (successfully) drive away so called 'louts' or 'hoons' (http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2007/03/06/1854460.htm).
Authors: Emery Schubert
Event: SF08: Speed Papers