• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-17
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• 2021

Using Kohut's selfobject perspective as a foundation, this qualitative study explored the empathy with music and analyzed the empirical meanings in relation to 'Mirroring selfobject need', 'Idealized selfobject need', and 'Twinship selfobject need'. The participants included 13 music therapy graduate students who took part in individual interviews about their musical experiences. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed via content analysis. As a result, seven categories with 16 meaningful concepts emerged under three dimensions: Gratification of selfobject need for mirroring, gratification of selfobject need for idealization, and gratification of selfobject need for twinship. Participants described experiencing unconditional understanding and acceptance from music, feeling stronger and safer in music, and being identified with and connected to music. These findings suggest that participants continuously gratify their selfobject needs by expanding the self and empathizing themselves through music. This study in significant in that it is the first qualitative study to analyze participants' musical experiences from Kohut's selfobject perspective.