Previous research suggests that listening to music can enhance memory and well-being. However, what is often missing from this analysis is consideration of the social dimensions of music—for example, its capacity to affirm or threaten listeners’ social identities. This study examined whether (ir)religious music that was potentially identity-affirming or identity-threatening (Christian hymns, Buddhist chants, classical, or no music) would affect Christians’ and Atheists’ (N = 267) well-being and memory performance while listening. Analyses revealed significant interactions between (ir)religious group and music type on memory, self-esteem, and mood. Listening to music that potentially threatened one's religious identity appeared to undermine both performance self-esteem and actual memory performance, while increasing feelings of hostility. This pattern was found for Christians (vs. Atheists) who listened to Buddhist chants. Conversely, Atheists’ performance self-esteem (and to some degree their memory performance) was lowest, and their hostility highest, when they listened to Christian hymns. In this way, listening to music that potentially threatened one's religious group identity (or lack thereof) appeared to be detrimental for memory, self-esteem, and mood. These results bridge research on the psychology of religion, music psychology, and social identity theorizing by demonstrating that the effects of music on memory and well-being may reflect important (even sacred) social identities, with potential implications for individual well-being and intergroup relations.

中文翻译：

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他们（不是）在播放我们的歌曲：（Ir）宗教身份会调节听宗教音乐对记忆、自尊和情绪的影响

先前的研究表明，听音乐可以增强记忆力和幸福感。然而，这种分析往往缺少对音乐社会维度的考虑——例如，它肯定或威胁听众社会身份的能力。这项研究调查了可能会肯定身份或威胁身份的（非）宗教音乐（基督教赞美诗、佛教圣歌、古典音乐或无音乐）是否会影响基督徒和无神论者的（N = 267）聆听时的幸福感和记忆力。分析揭示了（非）宗教群体和音乐类型之间在记忆、自尊和情绪方面的显着相互作用。听可能威胁到一个人的宗教身份的音乐似乎会破坏表演自尊和实际记忆表现，同时增加敌意。这种模式是为听佛教圣歌的基督徒（与无神论者）发现的。相反，当无神论者听基督教赞美诗时，他们的表现自尊（以及在某种程度上他们的记忆表现）最低，而他们的敌意最高。这样，听可能威胁到一个人的宗教团体身份（或缺乏宗教团体身份）的音乐似乎对记忆力、自尊和情绪有害。