EndlessplayingofsongslikeAllIWantForChristmasinshopsduringthefestiveseasondoesn’tjustdriveusmad—thesongsalsomakeusmorecarelesswithourmoney,researchhaswarned.WhilerepeatedperformanceofJingleBellsmayseem
EndlessplayingofsongslikeAllIWantForChristmasinshopsduringthefestiveseasondoesn’tjustdriveusmad—thesongsalsomakeusmorecarelesswithourmoney,researchhaswarned.
WhilerepeatedperformanceofJingleBellsmayseemlikeaninnocentattempttoraisecustomers’spiritsduringthenightmareofChristmasshopping,thesongsalsohaveamoredelicateimpact.
“Backgroundmusic,or‘muzak’,canbeusedbymarketerstoimposecultures—suchasthecommercializationofChristmas—ontoconsumersandinfluencetheirbehaviour,”expertssaid.
Dr.AlanBradshawofRoyalHolloway,UniversityofLondon,said,“Festivejinglesareforce-fedtoChristmasshoppersinabidtochangetheirmood,influencetheirsenseoftimeandwhatsortofproductstheybuy.Inotherwords,thisisanattempttocontrolyourshoppinghabitsinawaythatyoumighthardlybeawareof.”
“Oftenwearetoldthatwehavethefreedomtochoosewherewewanttoshop,butduringChristmastheuseofmusicinthiswayissocommonthatourfreedomtochoosedisappears.”
Dr.BradshawandProfMorrisHolbrookofColumbiaUniversityexaminedthephenomenonandfoundthatretailersoften“dumbdown”themusicplayedinshopstorelaxcustomers,meaningitiseasiertocontroltheirbehaviour.
Itisthoughtthatslowingdowntherhythmofmusicinshopscantrickcustomersintothinkinglesstimehaspassed,andthereforespendmoretimeexaminingtheshelves,forexample.
Someprovidersofbackgroundmusichavebeenknowntopromotetheirservicesbyclaimingtheycanboostprofitsbycontrollingthebehaviourofcustomers.
“Acommontrickistotakeapopularcurrentsongandrecordaninstrumentalversionwhichcanbesloweddownorspedupatdifferenttimeofthedaytoinfluencebehaviourindifferentways,”DrBradshawsaid.
Backgroundmusicisoftenclassedas“Muzak”inhonoroftheSeattle-basedcompanywhichbeganproducingitssoft-soundingmelodiesinthe1930s.
小题1:AccordingtoDr.Bradshaw,inwhatwaysdoesChristmasmusicinfluencecustomers?
①theirmood ②theirincome③theirsenseoftime④thesortofproductstheybuyA.①②③B.①③④C.②③④D.①②④小题2:Shopkersslowdowntherhythmofmusici