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Cited by 507Neuroscience and Music PerceptionMusic Therapy and HealthAnimal Vocal Communication and Behavior

The ice-breaker effect: Singing mediates fast social bonding

Open access
Pearce, Eiluned, Launay, Jacques, Dunbar, Robin I. M.·2015·Royal Society Open Science
DOI 10.1098/rsos.150221PMC PMC4632513
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Abstract

It has been proposed that singing evolved to facilitate social cohesion. However, it remains unclear whether bonding arises out of properties intrinsic to singing or whether any social engagement can have a similar effect. Furthermore, previous research has used one-off singing sessions without exploring the emergence of social bonding over time. In this semi-naturalistic study, we followed newly formed singing and non-singing (crafts or creative writing) adult education classes over seven months. Participants rated their closeness to their group and their affect, and were given a proxy measure of endorphin release, before and after their class, at three timepoints (months 1, 3 and 7). We show that although singers and non-singers felt equally connected by timepoint 3, singers experienced much faster bonding: singers demonstrated a significantly greater increase in closeness at timepoint 1, but the more gradual increase shown by non-singers caught up over time. This represents the first evidence for an ‘ice-breaker effect’ of singing in promoting fast cohesion between unfamiliar individuals, which bypasses the need for personal knowledge of group members gained through prolonged interaction. We argue that singing may have evolved to quickly bond large human groups of relative strangers, potentially through encouraging willingness to coordinate by enhancing positive affect.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In a seven-month semi-naturalistic study of newly formed adult education classes, singers showed faster increases in closeness to their group than non-singers, though both reached similar closeness by month 7. Singing also produced greater increases in positive affect, but not greater changes in negative affect or pain threshold compared with non-singing classes.

Key findings

  • Singers had a significantly greater within-class increase in closeness pooled across timepoints (M=1.04, s.d.=1.02, N=188) than non-singers (M=0.46, s.d.=0.90, N=114): t298.12=5.01, p<0.0001. At timepoint 1, the positive change in closeness was significantly greater for singers than non-singers (t4.12=4.32, p=0.012), but there was no significant difference at timepoint 2 (p=0.503) or timepoint 3 (p=0.165); by timepoint 3, after-class closeness did not differ significantly between conditions (p=0.748).
  • Positive affect increased more during class in the singing condition (M=0.65, s.d.=0.94, N=187) than in the non-singing condition (M=0.37, s.d.=0.73, N=113): t298=2.70, p=0.007. Negative affect was lower after class overall (t453.4=−2.47, p=0.014), but change in negative affect did not differ significantly between conditions (p=0.888).
  • Pain thresholds were higher after class overall (t210.18=2.22, p=0.027), but change in pain threshold did not differ significantly between singers and non-singers (p=0.474), contrary to the hypothesis.
  • Both singers and non-singers showed significant increases in closeness at each of the three timepoints (table 1), but the pattern differed: singers showed a sharper initial increase followed by a plateau, while non-singers showed a more gradual, linear increase.

Methods

  • Quasi-experimental field study following seven newly formed adult education classes set up by the Workers’ Education Association: four singing classes, two creative crafts classes, and one creative writing class. Classes were 2 h long and ran over seven months, with data collected at month 1, month 3, and month 7. Participants ranged from 18 to 83 years (singers: M=60±12 years; non-singers: M=52±15 years); 87% of singing participants and 88% of non-singing participants were female. Sample size decreased across timepoints due to dropout; 48 singers (57%) and 27 non-singers (53%) provided data at all three timepoints, but the analysis included the full sample.
  • Before and after each class, participants rated closeness to their class using a modified Inclusion of Other in Self 7-point scale, completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and provided a pressure-cuff pain-threshold measure as a proxy for endorphin release. Baseline closeness, positive affect, negative affect, and pain thresholds did not differ significantly between conditions.
  • Multi-level linear models were used for all analyses, with participant nested in class and, for initial comparisons, timepoint included as a third nested layer. Follow-up analyses of closeness over time included timepoint as an independent factor, and linear versus quadratic curves were fitted separately for each condition.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the craft and creative writing classes worked on individual projects rather than a shared group goal, so the study did not distinguish between the group-bonding effects of the physical act of singing per se and the existence of a shared group motivation to create music together; further work should compare singing with cooperative activities such as drama or joint craft projects.
  • The paper states that singers reached the ceiling of the IOS measure more quickly, so it is possible that singers did not actually plateau in emotional closeness but continued to deepen beyond the level experienced by non-singers; additional social bonding measures would be required to test this.
  • Evident from the text: the study was quasi-experimental with no control over assignment to conditions, participants self-selected into classes, dropout reduced the sample over time, the sample was predominantly female and drawn from adult education learners, and pain threshold was an indirect proxy for endorphin release rather than a direct measure.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1098/rsos.150221

Cites

59 of 59 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 59 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Singers experienced a significantly greater increase in closeness during a class than non-singers overall.

    “This interaction corresponds to a significantly greater increase in the change in closeness during a class (t298.12=5.01, p<0.0001) in the singing condition (M=1.04, s.d. =1.02, N=188) compared with the non-singing condition (M=0.46, s.d. =0.90, N=114).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The statistical analysis used is not adversely affected by missing data.
  • Findingown data

    Both singers and non-singers demonstrated significant increases in closeness to their respective group at each of the three timepoints.

    “Nonetheless, both singers and non-singers demonstrated significant increases in closeness to their respective group at each of the three timepoints (table 1).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The statistical analysis used is not adversely affected by missing data.
  • Findingown data

    There was no significant main effect of condition on closeness.

    “There was no significant main effect of condition (p=0.869), but there was a significant interaction between condition and the before/after comparison (t447.7=2.57, p=0.010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The statistical analysis used is not adversely affected by missing data.
  • Findingown data

    Participants felt significantly closer to their classmates after class than before class.

    “Participants felt significantly closer to their classmates after class (singing: M=5.23, s.d.=1.64, N=197; non-singing: M=4.68, s.d.=1.79, N=114) compared with beforehand (singing: M=4.28, s.d. =1.89, N = 189; non-singing: M=4.23, s.d. =1.90, N=116): t444.9=3.486, p=0.0005.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The statistical analysis used is not adversely affected by missing data.
  • Findingown data

    There was a significant interaction between condition and the before/after comparison for closeness.

    “There was no significant main effect of condition (p=0.869), but there was a significant interaction between condition and the before/after comparison (t447.7=2.57, p=0.010).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The statistical analysis used is not adversely affected by missing data.
  • May combine two claims. 21
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 16

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Compared with individuals participating in craft or creative writing classes, singers experience a greater increase in self-reported closeness to their group and positive affect.

    “Overall our results indicate that compared with individuals participating in craft or creative writing classes, singers experience a greater increase in both self-reported closeness to their group and positive affect.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Although negative affect decreased and pain thresholds increased during classes, there was no difference in these changes between the conditions.

    “By contrast, although negative affect decreased and pain thresholds (a proxy for endorphin release) increased during classes, there was no difference in these changes between the conditions: participants could withstand more pain and reported lower negative affect after class compared with beforehand, but, contra our hypotheses, this effect occurred irrespective of the activity that they had perf”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Singers showed a significantly greater boost in closeness at timepoint 1 compared with non-singers followed by a plateau.

    “Whereas singers showed a significantly greater boost in closeness at timepoint 1 compared with non-singers (reflected in the greater change found in the pooled data) followed by a plateau, non-singers showed a more gradual, linear increase to reach the same point eventually.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Group unity depends on behaviours that are synchronous and involve some muscular effort, which trigger the release of neuropeptides such as β-endorphin, yield enhanced positive affect, and in turn may enhance individuals' willingness to cooperate.

    “Building on a growing body of the literature, we propose that group unity depends on behaviours that are synchronous and involve some muscular effort, which trigger the release of neuropeptides such as β-endorphin, yield enhanced positive affect, and in turn may enhance individuals’ willingness to cooperate [28,32,34,35,57].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 5 sources checked
    • cites [28] Dunbar RIM, Kaskatis K, MacDonald I, Barra V 2012 Performance of music elevates pain threshold and positive affect. Evolut. Psychol. 10, 688– 702. (doi:10.1177/147470491201000403) 23089077 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [32] Cohen EEA, Ejsmond-Frey R, Knight N, Dunbar RIM 2010 Rowers’ high: behavioural synchrony is correlated with elevated pain thresholds. Biol. Lett. 6, 106– 108. (doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.0670) 19755532 PMC2817271 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [34] Dunbar RIM et al. 2012 Social laughter is correlated with an elevated pain threshold. Proc. R. Soc. B 279, 1161– 1167. (doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1373) PMC3267132 21920973 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [35] Tarr B, Launay J, Dunbar RIM 2014 Music and social bonding: ‘self-other’ merging and neurohormonal mechanisms. Front. Psychol. 5, 1– 10. (doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01096) 25324805 PMC4179700 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [57] Dunbar RIM 2010 The social role of touch in humans and primates: behavioural function and neurobiological mechanisms. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 34, 260– 268. (doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2008.07.001) 18662717 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The effect of decreased negative affect and increased pain thresholds occurred irrespective of the activity performed.

    “By contrast, although negative affect decreased and pain thresholds (a proxy for endorphin release) increased during classes, there was no difference in these changes between the conditions: participants could withstand more pain and reported lower negative affect after class compared with beforehand, but, contra our hypotheses, this effect occurred irrespective of the activity that they had perf”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Further closeness in the singing classes may have arisen as new relationships were built with individual classmates during the tea-break conversations or between classes.

    “Further closeness in the singing classes may have arisen as new relationships were built with individual classmates during the tea-break conversations or between classes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The differences in the temporal patterns of bonding suggest that the singing and non-singing classes may have reached similar levels of emotional closeness through different mechanisms, or at least different combinations of mechanisms.

    “The differences in the temporal patterns of bonding suggest that the singing and non-singing classes may have reached similar levels of emotional closeness through different mechanisms, or at least different combinations of mechanisms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    In the non-singing classes, group connectedness is likely to have culminated from the building of personal relationships through conversational interaction and associated laughter, whereas singing may have led to the development of personal relationships within the context of an already heightened sense of group cohesion.

    “In the non-singing classes, therefore, group connectedness is likely to have culminated from the building of personal relationships through conversational interaction and associated laughter, whereas singing may have led to the development of personal relationships within the context of an already heightened sense of group cohesion.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Creating and maintaining positive social relationships is essential for human physical and mental health and well-being.

    “Creating and maintaining positive social relationships is essential for human physical and mental health and well-being (e.g. [1–4]).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [1] Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Layton JB 2010 Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review. PLoS Med. 7, e1000316 (doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316) 20668659 PMC2910600 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [2] Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, Stephenson D 2015 Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspect. Psychol. Sci. 10, 227– 237. (doi:10.1177/1745691614568352) 25910392 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [3] Cacioppo JT, Hughes ME, Waite LJ, Hawkley LC, Thisted RA 2006 Loneliness as a specific risk factor for depressive symptoms: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Psychol. Aging 21, 140– 151. (doi:10.1037/0882-7974.21.1.140) 16594799 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [4] Pinquart M, Sörensen S 2000 Influences of socioeconomic status, social network, and competence on subjective well-being in later life: a meta-analysis. Psychol. Aging 15, 187– 224. (doi:10.1037/0882-7974.15.2.187) 10879576 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    There were no significant differences in baseline closeness or positive or negative affect between singing and non-singing classes.

    “There were no significant differences in baseline (i.e. before the first class) closeness or positive or negative affect between singing and non-singing classes.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The non-singing classes provided more opportunity than the singing classes for talking to each other, but lacked a powerful means of bonding a whole class simultaneously.

    “On the other hand, the non-singing classes provided more opportunity than the singing classes for talking to each other, but lacked a powerful means of bonding a whole class simultaneously.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Twenty-seven participants (53%) in the non-singing condition and 48 participants (57%) in the singing condition provided data at all three timepoints.

    “Twenty-seven participants (53%) in the non-singing condition and 48 participants (57%) in the singing condition provided data at all three timepoints.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Social networks provide practical and emotional support as well as providing a means of gaining new information and disseminating the cultural knowledge crucial for human survival.

    “Social networks provide practical and emotional support as well as providing a means of gaining new information and disseminating the cultural knowledge crucial for human survival [7–11].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 5 sources checked
    • cites [7] Whallon R 2006 Social networks and information: non-‘utilitarian’ mobility among hunter-gatherers. J. Anthropol. Archaeol. 25, 259– 270. (doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2005.11.004) source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [8] Wiessner P 1982 Risk, reciprocity and social influences on !Kung San economics. In Politics & history in band societies (eds E Leacock, RB Lee), pp. 61– 84. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [9] Pearce E 2014 Modelling mechanisms of social network maintenance in hunter–gatherers. J. Archaeol. Sci. 50, 403– 413. (doi:10.1016/j.jas.2014.08.004) 25214706 PMC4157219 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [10] Pearce E, Moutsiou T 2014 Using obsidian transfer distances to explore social network maintenance in late Pleistocene hunter–gatherers. J. Anthropol. Archaeol. 36, 12– 20. (doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2014.07.002) 25214705 PMC4157217 source

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    • cites [11] Roberts S, Dunbar RIM, Pollet TV, Kuppens T 2009 Exploring variation in active network size: constraints and ego characteristics. Soc. Netw. 31, 138– 146. (doi:10.1016/j.socnet.2008.12.002) source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Across the three timepoints, the sample size decreased in both conditions due to dropout.

    “Across the three timepoints, the sample size decreased in both conditions (table 1) due to dropout.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Social support enhances the survival of an individual's children, meaning that being part of a supportive social network may increase reproductive success.

    “Furthermore, social support enhances the survival of an individual’s children, meaning that being part of a supportive social network may increase reproductive success [5,6].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [5] Adams AM, Madhavan S, Simon D 2002 Women’s social networks and child survival in Mali. Soc. Sci. Med. 54, 165– 178. (doi:10.1016/S0277-9536(01)00017-X) 11824923 source

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    • cites [6] Iaupuni SMK, Donato KM, Thompson-Colón T, Stainback M 2005 Counting on kin: social networks, social support, and child health status. Soc. Forces 83, 1137– 1164. (doi:10.1353/sof.2005.0036) source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The models control for extraneous variables such as the effect of the different tutors teaching the different classes.

    “These models control for extraneous variables such as the effect of the different tutors teaching the different classes.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The study used multi-level linear models for all analyses to account for participants being nested in classes and non-independent data.

    “Given that participants were nested in classes and therefore do not represent independent data-points, multi-level linear models (MLMs) were conducted for all analyses.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Singing may be able to kick start the process of developing intimate personal relationships within a group: singing breaks the ice so that individuals feel closer to the group as a whole even if they do not yet know anything about the individual members.

    “Although protracted interaction is likely to be necessary in order for intimate personal relationships to develop within a group, singing may be able to kick start this process in humans: singing breaks the ice so that individuals feel closer to the group as a whole even if they do not yet know anything about the individual members.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Such an effect may overcome time constraints on the creation of individual relationships to allow large human groups to coordinate effectively and quickly.

    “Such an effect may overcome time constraints on the creation of individual relationships to allow large human groups to coordinate effectively and quickly.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The study design is a conventional quasi-experiment (field experiment) in which there is no control over assignment of participants to experimental conditions.

    “The design of the study is that of a conventional quasi-experiment (field experiment) in which there is no control over the assignment of participants to experimental conditions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Creating and maintaining personal relationships requires sufficient time investment, but finite time budgets place a limit on the number of personal relationships that an individual can maintain through one-on-one interactions.

    “Creating and maintaining personal relationships requires sufficient time investment, but finite time budgets place a limit on the number of personal relationships that an individual can maintain through one-on-one interactions [15–17].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [15] Sutcliffe A, Dunbar RIM, Binder J, Arrow H 2011 Relationships and the social brain: integrating psychological and evolutionary perspectives. Br. J. Psychol. 103, 149– 168. (doi:10.1111/j.2044-8295.2011.02061.x) 22506741 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [16] Roberts S, Dunbar RIM 2011 The costs of family and friends: an 18-month longitudinal study of relationship maintenance and decay. Evol. Hum. Behav. 32, 186– 197. (doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2010.08.005) source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [17] Miritello G, Moro E, Lara R, LMartinez-Lopez R, Belchamber J, Roberts S, Dunbar RIM 2013 Time as a limited resource: communication strategy in mobile phone networks. Soc. Netw. 35, 89– 95. (doi:10.1016/j.socnet.2013.01.003) source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Interpersonal closeness may have been amplified through laughter, which has been shown to lead to greater pain threshold increase (endorphin release) in social versus solitary settings, but is limited to bonding no more than three individuals at a time in typical conversational interactions.

    “Interpersonal closeness may have been amplified through laughter, which has been shown to lead to greater pain threshold increase (endorphin release) in social versus solitary settings [34], but is limited to bonding no more than three individuals at a time in typical conversational interactions [58].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [34] Dunbar RIM et al. 2012 Social laughter is correlated with an elevated pain threshold. Proc. R. Soc. B 279, 1161– 1167. (doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1373) PMC3267132 21920973 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [58] Dezecache G, Dunbar RIM 2012 Sharing the joke: the size of natural laughter groups. Evol. Hum. Behav. 33, 775– 779. (doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2012.07.002) source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The capacity of singing to bond groups of relative strangers in humans may have played a crucial role in allowing modern humans to create and maintain much larger social networks than their evolutionary relatives, which in turn may have facilitated the colonization of risky environments across the globe.

    “The capacity of singing to bond groups of relative strangers in humans may have played a crucial role in allowing modern humans to create and maintain much larger social networks than their evolutionary relatives, which in turn may have facilitated the colonization of risky environments across the globe [59].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [59] Pearce E, Shuttleworth A, Grove M, Layton R 2014 The costs of being a high latitude hominin. In The Lucy Project: benchmark papers (eds R Dunbar, C Gamble, J Gowlett), pp. 356– 379. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    β-Endorphin is implicated in mother-infant bonds, romantic relationships and social touch in humans, and appears to be released during synchronous behaviours that involve some physical exertion, such as rowing, laughter and dancing, particularly in social contexts.

    “β-Endorphin is implicated in mother–infant bonds, romantic relationships and social touch in humans [29–31], and appears to be released during synchronous behaviours that involve some physical exertion, such as rowing [32,33], laughter [34] and dancing [28], particularly in social contexts [35].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 6 sources checked
    • cites [29] Machin AJ, Dunbar RIM 2011 The brain opioid theory of social attachment: a review of the evidence. Behaviour 148, 985– 1025. (doi:10.1163/000579511X596624) source

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    • cites [30] Keverne EB, Martensz ND, Tuite B 1989 Beta-endorphin concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid of monkeys are influenced by grooming relationships. Psychoneuroendocrinology 14, 155– 161. (doi:10.1016/0306-4530(89)90065-6) 2525263 source

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    • cites [31] Nummenmaa L et al. Submitted. Social touching deactivates the endogenous μ-opioid system in humans.

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [32] Cohen EEA, Ejsmond-Frey R, Knight N, Dunbar RIM 2010 Rowers’ high: behavioural synchrony is correlated with elevated pain thresholds. Biol. Lett. 6, 106– 108. (doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.0670) 19755532 PMC2817271 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [33] Sullivan P, Rickers K 2012 The effect of behavioral synchrony in groups of teammates and strangers. Int. J. Sport Exerc. Psychol. 11, 286– 291. (doi:10.1080/1612197X.2013.750139) source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [34] Dunbar RIM et al. 2012 Social laughter is correlated with an elevated pain threshold. Proc. R. Soc. B 279, 1161– 1167. (doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1373) PMC3267132 21920973 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Synchronous activity increases subsequent prosocial behaviour and feelings of affiliation.

    “In addition to the apparent endorphin effect, an expanding body of the literature has consistently shown that synchronous activity increases subsequent prosocial behaviour and feelings of affiliation (e.g. [37–45]).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 9 sources checked
    • cites [37] Reddish P, Fischer R, Bulbulia J 2013 Let’s dance together: synchrony, shared intentionality and cooperation. PLoS ONE 8, e71182 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0071182) 23951106 PMC3737148 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [38] Cirelli LK, Einarson KM, Trainor LJ 2014 Interpersonal synchrony increases prosocial behavior in infants. Dev. Sci. 17, 1003– 1011. (doi:10.1111/desc.12193) 25513669 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [39] Wiltermuth SS, Heath C 2009 Synchrony and cooperation. Psychol. Sci. 20, 1– 5. (doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02253.x) 19152536 source

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    • cites [40] Valdesolo P, Ouyang J, DeSteno D 2010 The rhythm of joint action: synchrony promotes cooperative ability. J. Exp. Soc. Psychol. 46, 693– 695. (doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2010.03.004) source

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    • cites [41] Reddish P, Bulbulia J, Fischer R 2013 Does synchrony promote generalized prosociality? Religion Brain Behav. 4, 3– 19. (doi:10.1080/2153599X.2013.764545) source

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    • cites [42] Kirschner S, Tomasello M 2010 Joint music making promotes prosocial behavior in 4-year-old children. Evol. Hum. Behav. 31, 354– 364. (doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2010.04.004) source

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    • cites [43] Hove MJ, Risen JL 2009 It’s all in the timing: interpersonal synchrony increases affiliation. Soc. Cognit. 27, 949– 960. (doi:10.1521/soco.2009.27.6.949) source

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    • cites [44] Launay J, Dean RT, Bailes F 2014 Synchronising movements with the sounds of virtual partner enhances partner likeability. Cognit. Process. 15, 491– 501. (doi:10.1007/s10339-014-0618-0) 24805849 source

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    • cites [45] Launay J, Dean RT, Bailes F 2013 Synchronization can influence trust following virtual interaction. Exp. Psychol. 60, 53– 63. (doi:10.1027/1618-3169/a000173) 22935329 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    It has been argued that singing, as well as other musical activities, may have evolved as a mechanism of social bonding.

    “Notably, it has been argued that singing, as well as other musical activities, may have evolved as a mechanism of social bonding [23–25].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [23] Huron D 2003 Is music an evolutionary adaptation? In The cognitive neuroscience of music (eds I Peretz, R Zatorre), pp. 57– 75. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [24] Hagen E, Bryant G 2003 Music and dance as a coalition signaling system. Hum. Nat. 14, 21– 51. (doi:10.1007/s12110-003-1015-z) 26189987 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [25] Dunbar RIM 2012 On the evolution of song and dance. In Music, language, & human evolution (ed. N Bannan). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Singing is found in all human societies and can be performed to some extent by the vast majority of humans: singing is a universal human behavioural capacity, and this implies that it could have arisen as an evolutionary adaptation.

    “Singing is found in all human societies and can be performed to some extent by the vast majority of humans: singing is a universal human behavioural capacity, and this implies that it could have arisen as an evolutionary adaptation [21,22].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [21] Blacking J 1973 How musical is man? Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [22] Morley I 2013 The prehistory of music: human evolution, archaeology, and the origins of musicality. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Overall, the universal nature of human singing and its consistent association with social behaviour suggests that it could have evolved as a mechanism of bonding social groups.

    “Overall, the universal nature of human singing and its consistent association with social behaviour suggests that it could have evolved as a mechanism of bonding social groups.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    This shared experience of positive mood enhancement can be seen as a further form of synchronization, preparing performers for further coordinated activity.

    “This shared experience of positive mood enhancement can be seen as a further form of synchronization, preparing performers for further coordinated activity [54].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [54] Huron D 2001 Is music an evolutionary adaptation? Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 930, 43– 61. (doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb05724.x) 11458859 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Singing has been shown to increase positive affect and choir members often report a 'lift' in mood after singing.

    “Moreover, singing has been shown to increase positive affect and choir members often report a ‘lift’ in mood after singing [27,28,51–53].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 5 sources checked
    • cites [27] Kreutz G 2014 Does singing facilitate social bonding? Music Med. 6, 51– 60. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [28] Dunbar RIM, Kaskatis K, MacDonald I, Barra V 2012 Performance of music elevates pain threshold and positive affect. Evolut. Psychol. 10, 688– 702. (doi:10.1177/147470491201000403) 23089077 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [51] Tamplin J, Baker FA, Jones B, Way A, Lee S 2013 ‘Stroke a chord’: the effect of singing in a community choir on mood and social engagement for people living with aphasia following a stroke. NeuroRehabilitation. 32, 929– 941. (doi:10.3233/NRE-130916) 23867418 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [52] Sakano K et al 2014 Possible benefits of singing to the mental and physical condition of the elderly. BioPsychoSoc. Med. 8, 11 (doi:10.1186/1751-0759-8-11) 24864162 PMC4033614 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [53] Unwin MM, Kenny DT, Davis PJ 2002 The effects of group singing on mood. Psychol. Music 30, 175– 185. (doi:10.1177/0305735602302004) source

      Not checked in the free run.

30 of 30

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The statistical analysis used is not adversely affected by missing data.

    “However, the statistical analysis used is not adversely affected by missing data, so the results presented here include the full sample.”
1 of 1

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • The perceived social connectedness result could be attributed to the specific choir group; most members have been involved for a long time, so social connectedness may not vary as much as in a newly formed singing group.

    “To some extent, this result could be attributed to the specific choir group. Although the members of the participating choir fluctuate to a certain extent, most members have been involved in this group for a long time. Therefore, the SOC may not vary as much as it does in a newly formed singing group (Kreutz, 2014; Pearce et al., 2015).”

    From Psychobiological Effects of Choral Singing on Affective State, Social Connectedness, and Stress: Influences of Singing Activity and Time Course (2018) · cites this paper as Pearce et al., 2015

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Baseline measurements were not taken before the first class

    Minor

    The paper calls the baseline measurements those taken before the first class, but says data collection began during the second or third class, after the group had already met once or twice.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Wiessner P, 1982, Politics & history in band societies, 61
  2. Dunbar RIM, 2012, Music, language, & human evolution

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Pearce, E., Launay, J., & Dunbar, R. I. M.
Affiliations
University of Oxford (GB)
Corresponding author
Pearce, Eiluned
ORCID
Venue
Royal Society Open Science
Publisher
The Royal Society
Published
2015-10
Volume
2
Issue
10
Pages
150221
ISSN
2054-5703 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1098/rsos.150221
PMC
PMC4632513
OpenAlex
W2190198557
Semantic Scholar
5f76101c12de4998ba5718a8eb0048703ea2cfc3
Cited by
507
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 45 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 77 · 2023: 43 · 2022: 66 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 92 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 2
FWCI
12.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Royal Society Open Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Brunel University Research Archive (BURA) (Brunel University London) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Music Perception
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Music Therapy and Health
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology › Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
Keywords
singing, social bonding, social cohesion, endorphin release, positive affect, social coordination

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-09.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-09.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

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