2022/12/14 by Farthofer-Schmid, Lisa, Smetana, Monika
#Ausdruck #Körper #Literaturreview #Medicine and health #Musiktherapie #body #expression #literature review #music therapy #nonverbal behaviour #nonverbal interaction #nonverbale Interaktion #nonverbales Verhalten
paper · doi:10.3205/jat000027
Introduction: Bodily expression is an essential part of nonverbal communication. In music therapy, nonverbal action and interaction usually go along with the activation of the body in musical play. Since mental and (neuro-)developmental disorders often severely impair interpersonal expression, a precise observation of bodily processes is considered to be important also for diagnostic and evaluative purposes. For this, however, there is a lack of theoretical and methodical concepts in music therapy. Method: To obtain an overview of the current scientific and practical knowledge with regard to bodily expression in music therapy, a literature review was conducted, focusing on the treatment of mental and developmental disorders. Results: The literature review produced 132 results, dating from 1974 to 2020, including methodical and theoretical approaches (n=59), assessments (n=39), scientific studies (n=16), interdisciplinary approaches (n=11), and overviews (n=7). The most frequently mentioned topics in this context were autism and children. Although the literature included some examples of detailed assessments, we could identify no concise theoretical or practical framework for characterising, interpreting, and handling bodily expression in music therapy. Discussion: The results, particularly those from the assessment category, show potential for developing concepts for characterising and analysing music therapy from a multimodal point of view, considering it as an intertwining of vocal, musical, and bodily expression. Merging the existing music therapeutic and interdisciplinary knowledge (e.g. embodiment research) and evidence-based research on further populations will help music therapy to refine its methods and to promote development and establishment in the health care system.