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Research Paper

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English

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Gordon College

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ENG 1102

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Music Research Paper

Effects of Music on One’s Mood and Emotions

Music plays an active role in the regulation of a person’s mood. Music has become a

salient part of our lives because people are able to listen to music in different settings, mostly in

background contexts. In this process, as the music becomes tandem with our emotions, a valence

affect occurs. Hanser & Mark (2013) propose a more recognizable and acceptable model that

categorizes emotional differences created by music. According to the authors, there are two

dimensions of emotions, including valence and arousal. High valence and arousal is associated

with music that brings happiness and excitement (Hanser & Mark, 307).

On the other hand, depression and sadness are emotions tied to low valence as well as

arousal. The authors conclude that for these strong effects of music to be realized, our emotions

and the music must be congruent (Hanser & Mark, 305). The findings of this study, therefore,

illustrate that music can impact on our emotions both positively and negatively depending on the

type of music. Some music may a source of happiness and joy while others may bring sadness,

fear and anger.

Depending on the kind of music, similarly, generates a wide range of emotions and

drives. Habibi & Damasio (2014) assert that a variety of music impacts our feelings or emotional

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experiences. The denote that people’s emotions are “largely triggered by the perception or recall

of exteroceptive stimuli and include responses, such as fear, disgust, anger, sadness and joy”

(Habibi & Damasio, 93). On this note, music has the capacity to evoke these emotions and

feelings. This excerpt affirms the previous sentiments on the positive and negative impacts of

music on people’s emotions.

From another angle, active listeners of music may experience far much effects on their

brain activity compared to passive music listeners. For example, “professional musicians exhibit

more intense patterns of emotional arousal while listening to music than amateurs”. This

variance occurs because previous knowledge of music heightens the impact of the music on their

brain activity (Kucikiene & Praninskiene, 103). Therefore, as people become actively engaged

with music, they are likely to experience more profound emotions. This is unlike people who

listen to background music. This analogy implies that music impacts on the emotions of persons

differently depending on how hooked they are to the music.

Impacts of Music on People and Society

Ideally, most people listen to music on a daily basis either willingly or unwillingly. As

explained by Hanser and Mark (2013), humans unlike other beings relate and develop emotions

with music differently. The authors reveal that music is rewarding for human beings because it

solicits strong emotions. In particular, “the areas of the brain that are activated by emotional

music are similar to those associated with such strongly rewarding activities and stimuli as

games, drugs, food and sex (Hanser & Mark, 306). Even so, an infant has the capacity to detect

musical beats during birth. At this juncture, it is suggested that music has the capacity to bring

joy to people (Hanser & Mark, 306). Therefore, as a species, people have the capability to listen

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Surname 1 Name Instructor Course Date Music Research Paper Effects of Music on One’s Mood and Emotions Music plays an active role in the regulation of a person’s mood. Music has become a salient part of our lives because people are able to listen to music in different settings, mostly in background contexts. In this process, as the music becomes tandem with our emotions, a valence affect occurs. Hanser & Mark (2013) propose a more recognizable and acceptable model that categorizes emotional differences created by music. According to the authors, there are two dimensions of emotions, including valence and arousal. High valence and arousal is associated with music that brings happiness and excitement (Hanser & Mark, 307). On the other hand, depression and sadness are emotions tied to low valence as well as arousal. The authors conclude that for these strong effects of music to be realized, our emotions and the music must be congruent (Hanser & Mark, 305). The findings of this study, therefore, illustrate that music can impact on our emotions both positively and negatively depending on the type of music. Some music may a source of happiness and joy while others may bring sadness, fear and anger. Depending on the kind of music, similarly, generates a wide range of emotions and drives. Habibi & Damasio (2014) assert that a variety of music impacts our feelings or emotional Surname 2 experiences. The denote that people’s emotions are “largely triggered by the perception o ...
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Tags: emotional differences strong effects music impacts exteroceptive stimuli profound emotions