Commentary on Lee and Zaryab: Does groove really influence sexual selection?

Abstract

Music is a stimulus that is known to have manipulative potential in different societal contexts. Misattributed arousal is one mechanism through which music may affect perception and behavior. Lee and Zaryab (this volume) present a study that examined the influence of groove on sexual selection in a simulated speed-dating paradigm, building upon research by Marin et al. (2017) and Chang et al. (2021). Their results indicate that groove ratings predicted sexual attraction among males, but not among females. This commentary discusses several methodological issues and suggests possible refinements for future studies on music-induced arousal transfer, which may ultimately enhance our understanding of how music can affect mate choice. Finally, I discuss the topic in the context of the origins of music and musicality.