Music's Effect On Emotion

Music is a beautiful form of expression, allowing listeners and writers alike to analyze and discuss their feelings. For some, it acts as an escape from reality- it can transport you into a different dimension where nothing exists but the thoughts in your head and the sound in your ears. But, music is not only beneficial for just listening. It also has a profound effect on your emotions and can actually change them.

Music therapy has been utilized in many ways, the most popular form being guided meditation. Its results are astounding. Music therapy has been found to reduce stress, improve memory, reduce pain, and even reduce the risk of heart disease. This is not all from upbeat and happy music either. Positive emotions are the outcome of most musical experiences, even when listening to sad music. This is because when your brain is satisfied with a sound, it releases dopamine, which is essentially your brain’s chemical form of happiness. A study in the U.K. and Finland focused on volunteers’ emotions while listening to sad music and discovered that the majority of responses were positive, such as mood or behavior improvement. Though this does not apply to everyone, it has a simple explanation: sad music is created to fill the hole of loss, usually from a relationship standpoint. Writers from the Journal of Consumer Research compared it to having an empathetic friend who you can talk to- sad music in particular creates that satisfying and appreciative feeling that someone understands how you feel. It’s comforting to everyone to know they’re not alone, and the fact that the reassurance sounds beautiful, well, that's an obvious plus. Upbeat and positive music has beneficial effects of its own. A study done in 2013 by the Journal of Positive Psychology concluded that those who listen to upbeat music can experience mood improvements in as few as 2 weeks. 

Music plays a huge role in the lives of many, and knowing the effects that it can have will hopefully encourage the love of music to spread. The benefits of music soared far above my expectations, and I hope that you will discover a newfound appreciation for this amazing art form and the opportunities it can bring. 

By Sydney Feld