Psychology of Music

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A01=John Booth Davies
auditory perception
Author_John Booth Davies
Category=JMR
cognitive processes in music perception
cognitive psychology
consonance dissonance theory
eq_bestseller
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_new_release
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
eq_society-politics
musical ability
musical aptitude assessment
perception of music
psychological measurement music
rhythm cognition
scientific study of music
social psychology
tonal memory

Product details

  • ISBN 9781032943787
  • Weight: 450g
  • Dimensions: 156 x 234mm
  • Publication Date: 02 Feb 2026
  • Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
  • Publication City/Country: GB
  • Product Form: Paperback
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What happens when we listen to music? Why are certain forms pleasing and others not? John Davies was both a psychologist and a talented musician and The Psychology of Music, originally published in 1978, explores the nature of man’s eternal need for, and love of, music. Drawing on current research in psychology and social psychology at the time, he explores the processes beneath this love affair in an easy and fluent style liberally punctuated with amusing and, occasionally, startling examples.

John Booth Davies (1944–2017) Emeritus Professor was both a psychologist and a talented musician. He completed his PhD on the topic of musical ability but combined this with playing piano and trumpet in jazz clubs. He made significant and lasting contributions to each of the diverse fields that took his interest throughout his career. The Psychology of Music was his first book, largely dealing with the cognitive psychology of music, he went on to publish books challenging the dominant way in which addiction is understood. The Myth of Addiction and Drugspeak: The Analysis of Drug Discourse are also available from Routledge.

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