ABSTRACT
The ethos theory can be traced back to Ancient Greece and its central claim is that music can have both positive and negative effects on people’s characters. This chapter investigates the origins of the ethos theory, following its history through to contemporary empirical research to analyse whether it continues to hold merit. The ethos theory holds an intuitive plausibility and cultural appeal, but on the basis of the available evidence, this chapter argues that the theory lacks empirical support. Although sometimes some forms of music may improve prosocial behaviour and sometimes some forms of music may encourage people to judge immoral behaviour less harshly, such findings are neither robustly consistent, nor do they justify any long-term effects. Thus, the chapter concludes that there is insufficient evidence to yet prove such claims. However, at least one form of the ethos theory is promising and more evidence may yet prove it to be correct.
