Anna A. Kichigina

Background. In the Russian school of the culture-and-activity approach, one can find abundant research on the mediation of cognitive processes, yet, there are still a few studies on the mediation of experiencing as an activity. There are also no studies on the age-related features of the formation of experiencing as a higher mental function. It has been suggested that frequent listening to musical compositions by the adolescent scan serve as a means of “mastering” (mediating) their experiencing. 

Objective. The study had its purpose to study the process of age-related development of experiencing as an activity and a higher mental function in the self-determined (subject) activity of adolescents. 

Sample included 42 adolescents (14–15 years old). 

Methods. Experimental study consisted of the following stages: 1) drawing “My emotional state” and completing the first part of the author’s questionnaire; 2) listening to a musical composition of one’s own choice; 3) re-drawing “My emotional state” and completing the second part of the author’s questionnaire; 4) writing the essay “The Meaning of Music in My Life”. Empirical data analysis was carried out by means of the “grounded theory method”, content analysis, and statistical criteria. 

Results. The study revealed the significant differences (Wilcoxon shift criterion r = –0.283; p = 0.78) in the ranks of the participants’ color choice before and after listening to music, a decrease in the number of formal stereotyped images (Fisher’s angular transformation criterion φ* = 1.646), an increase in the number of descriptions of positive emotional states (Fisher’s angular transformation criterion φ* = 5.582), and a decrease in the number of descriptions of neutral emotional states (Fisher’s angular transform criterion φ* = 3.400). 

Conclusion. Listening to music allows adolescents to mediate their experiencing, which can manifest itself in their engagement, immersion in the actual state — experiencing, in a change of emotional state: from calmness — to activity, from tension — to relaxation, from experiencing fear — to experiencing anger. In the process of listening to music, the teenagers gradually master their inner world, begin to understand their emotional states, realize the personal meaning of an experiencing. The content analysis of teenagers’ texts allows to conclude that mediating experiencing by means of a musical composition (a song) as a combination of musical intonation and text helps teenagers to take a subject position in relation to their experiencing.