What approach suggests that people have emotional responses to music based on their previous experiences with similar musical patterns?

The theory of expectations posits that individuals develop emotional responses to music largely influenced by their past experiences with similar musical patterns. This approach suggests that listeners form anticipations about how music is likely to unfold based on their previous encounters with specific genres, styles, or even particular songs. These expectations can shape the emotional impact of the music as people respond to familiar or unexpected elements within a piece.

When listeners hear certain melodic structures or harmonic progressions, they may anticipate how these will resolve, which can elicit a range of emotions based on their individual history with those patterns. This aligns closely with how emotional responses are often tied to familiarity and personal experiences, reinforcing the notion that our reactions to music are not merely instinctual but also shaped by our learned experiences.

This understanding is crucial in music therapy, where therapists can utilize familiar music to evoke certain feelings, memories, or responses in clients, emphasizing the practical applications of this theory in therapeutic settings.