Even when we know, rationally, that violent crime is rare, that doesn’t stop us from getting the creeps sometimes, such as in a poorly lit or deserted parking garage.
This tendency leads people to avoid places that are otherwise safe. How to reduce that fear? New research by University of Michigan marketing professor Aradhna Krishna shows that certain ambient sounds create a feeling of safety in such places.
“There is a feeling of unease when people are alone in public places, such as a parking garage, metro station, or airport tunnel,” said Krishna, professor of marketing and director of the Sensory Marketing Laboratory at University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.
Bird songs and human vocal sounds give a sense of social presence and seem to be the most effective to use.
, University of Michigan's Ross School of Business
