Does Music Affect Behavior?
posted by Shakenna Moore | September 11, 2023 | In News, OpinionIt has been said that music is a universal language. It exists in every society, whether it’s just instrumental or has vocals. There is a song for every emotion we feel, whether you’re happy, sad or indifferent.
This begs the question: Does music really affect behavior?
Absolutely! Music can be a motivator. When it’s time to clean the house, what is the first thing that we do? We put on the music, loud and proud. The beats kick in, and we start moving. The energy within us sets in, and we are ready to start the task.
Music also can impact our mood in a therapeutic way. The National Institutes of Health published a study entitled “Psychological Functions of Music Listening.” According to the study, the main reasons for listening are that music becomes somewhat of a companion to us, it is used for positive mood outcomes, and it is also a comfortable method to better activate the way in which each individual taps into their own behaviors and does a self-check.
To me, this sounds like an inspiring way to say that ultimately, no matter what you’re going through, music can be a constant thing in your life that you can count on to keep you encouraged.
In addition, it has been said that music is somehow responsible for depression, bad behavior, and bad moods. I would suggest that music may have an influence on someone’s mood, but it more than likely enhances whatever is there, rather than causing the issues. If someone already has depression and they listen to music that puts them in a solemn mood, or the music has a negative connotation, then yes, this could impact them in a negative way.
So, what am I saying? I’m saying that if your emotional compass is compromised by feelings of aggression, depression, or hopelessness, and you listen to music that triggers all of those feelings, you could possibly head into a downward spiral which could cause you to behave badly.
Interestingly enough, the American Association of Retired Persons did a study on music and brain health. According to them, music listeners had better outcomes for mental well-being and lower levels of anxiety and depression in comparison to others. People who listened to music showed the strongest brain benefits. They also detailed dancing and its relationship to music. It showed how dancing was connected to higher rates of happiness, mental brain function, and the use of our senses through cognitive functions.
Essentially, if we listen to some lyrics from different artists, we can see that they are all about happiness. At the end of the day all they wanted was happiness and positive outcomes. Some examples come from artists like Pharell Williams with “Happy,” The Beach Boys with “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” and last but not least, Katrina and the Waves’s “I’m walking on sunshine, whooah, and don’t it feel good!”
Photo courtesy by Ford Bowles
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