Voices in Your Head: Wearing Headphones Changes Listening

FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022 (HealthDay Information) — Headphones have a a lot higher influence on listeners than exterior audio system as a result of they put voices “inside your head,” a brand new examine explains.

“Headphones produce a phenomenon known as in-head localization, which makes the speaker sound as in the event that they’re inside your head,” mentioned examine co-author On Amir, a professor of promoting on the College of California, San Diego.

“Consequently, listeners understand the communicators as nearer — each bodily and socially. Consequently, listeners understand the communicator as hotter, they really feel and behave extra empathically towards them and they’re extra simply persuaded by them,” Amir defined in a college information launch.

The findings may have vital implications for coaching applications, distant work and promoting, in keeping with the researchers.

In a sequence of experiments and surveys involving greater than 4,000 folks, the investigators discovered that headphones have a a lot stronger impact than exterior audio system on listeners’ perceptions, judgments and behaviors.

The findings — scheduled to be revealed within the journal Organizational Conduct and Human Choice Processes —may make a mark in quite a few areas, together with distant work and office coaching, the researchers advised.

“Organizations could think about this analysis when designing their trainings or webinars,” mentioned examine creator Juliana Schroeder, affiliate professor of administration, on the College of California, Berkeley. “For instance, managers may encourage staff to hearken to security trainings or webinars utilizing headphones, which can extra successfully change their attitudes and behaviors, in comparison with listening by way of audio system.”

Firms may ship staff headphones to encourage their use in telephone conversations, which may enhance collaboration, particularly within the period of distant work, Amir added.

Headphones might also domesticate a extra loyal and engaged viewers for on-air personalities, the researchers mentioned.

“Clearly, our analysis means that influencers, bloggers and podcasters wish to attempt to guarantee that folks pay attention by headphones as a result of that creates that attachment,” Amir mentioned. “Our analysis proposes that it isn’t solely what or whom folks hear that influences their judgments, selections and behaviors, but additionally how they hear the message.”

Extra data

For recommendation on secure headphone use, go to Harvard Well being.