Expectancy-Value Effects of Self-Perceived Musical Ability and Musical Contingent Self-Worth on Tonal Working Memory

In a recent study, Kowalewski et al. (2025) found that more extensive music training was associated with improvements in tonal working memory among individuals whose self-esteem is relatively contingent on demonstrating musical competence (i.e., those higher in musical contingent self-worth; MCSW). However, in light of new research revealing a positive association between music training and self-perceived musical ability (Correia et al., 2023), we hypothesized that these earlier findings may have at least partly reflected the impact of self-perceived musical ability on tonal working memory. In a large-scale study (N = 636), we found evidence consistent with this hypothesis: When included in the same linear model, MCSW positively moderated the effect of self-perceived musical ability, but not that of music training, on tonal working memory. These results may suggest that self-perceived musical ability reflects individuals’ expectancy that they will be able to show high musical competence whereas MCSW reflects the value that they place on demonstrating such competence. According to this motivational account, when a task is construed as relevant to musicality, performance may often be enhanced when both self-perceived musical ability and MCSW are at higher levels, irrespective of individuals’ level of music training.