Have you ever felt like you were being controlled, and that there wasn’t really an explanation to why you were feeling that way? You may be feeling that way because of the type of music you listen to. Music has a powerful control over the human mind and body; whether you realize it or not, music is a huge part of society. Think about it, music is everywhere: in movies, on the television, at the grocery store, in our cars, on our phones, in advertisement, commercials, and at our schools. Music is not only everywhere, but has been around since the beginning of time; which just shows how important music is to the human race. Music can be both influential and imperative to the human mind and body. “How?” you may ask. The music we listen to affects our brain activity: behavior, ability to learn, thoughts, and emotions.
My Focus this week is going to be on music. Obviously music is important to everyone. Music often times
allows you to feel and express emotions that are hard to convey through just your words. I will be talking about how the music you listen to effects not only your thoughts but behavior as well and how you can be in control. You Choose the music you listen to, Therefore, you choose the way that you feel,
and you choose the thoughts that enter into your mind.
I never really noticed the way that music effects me until I started paying attention to the way
different types of music made me feel.
Is one really aware of their demeanor as music plays in the background of their mind? Douglas R. Fields, journalist from Scientific American gives the following scenario: “You walk into a bar and music is thumping. All heads are bobbing and feet taping in synchrony. Somehow the rhythmic sound grabs control of the brains of everyone in the room forcing them to operate simultaneously and perform the same behaviors in synchrony.” Fields then goes on to ask the following questions: “How is this possible? Is this unconscious mind control by rhythmic sound only driving our bodily motions, or could it be affecting deeper mental processes?” Research proves that rhythmic sound synchronizes brain waves. The ability to experience and react to music in embedded in our nervous system. Let’s say you walk into a party, you hear Eminem playing in the background, and observe what is going on at the party; people are dirty dancing, making out in the corner, yelling over each other, being destructive, using foul language and drinking. The next song on the playlist that comes on is Jason Mraz’s I won’t give up. Instantly the atmosphere changes; people are talking to each other quietly, the people making out in the corner are now engaging with everyone else in the room, everyone has now set their drinks down, and people are beginning to relax. Does the atmosphere change because of the music that is being played? Or is it merely a coincidence?
People worry about kids playing with guns, and teenagers watching violent videos; we are scared that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands - literally thousands - of songs about broken hearts and rejection and pain and misery and loss.Adolescents, especially, are susceptible to the effects of music. The types of music adolescents listen to can be a predictor of their behavior. Those who listen to heavy metal and rap have higher rates of delinquent activity, such as drug and alcohol use, poor school grades, arrest, sexual activity, and behavior problems than those who prefer other types.
A majority of the music in today’s world is all about sex and drugs. Let’s say you have a song stuck in your head, the lyrics are playing through your mind. If the lyrics are talking about sex and drugs then the likelihood that you are thinking about sex and drugs is probable. Pretty soon those thoughts become actions. Lao-Tze once said, “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become action. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” The music you listen to can affect and change your entire life. The ability to experience and react to music is embedded in our nervous system.
Our brain reacts to music in different ways depending on whether a person is listening to music, playing an instrument, and whether or not the music involves lyrics. Author Michael D. Lemonick states, “A tune can induce emotions ranging from unabashed joy to deep sorrow and can drive listeners into states of patriotic fervor or religious frenzy--to say nothing of its legendary ability to soothe the savage beast.” Music can influence an individual, and those who play an instrument have an advantage over those who do not. Lemonick expresses, “Intensive practice of an instrument leads to discernible enlargement of parts of the cerebral cortex, the layer of gray matter most closely associated with higher brain function.” Many studies of music and the brain show the difference between the brains of those who study music and those who do not. Scientists are continually studying what happens inside the brain of listeners and musicians; the secret of music’s strange power. Scientists have studied famous composers who have experienced brain deficits as a result of injury and have found that after tragic accidents musicians can sometimes still remember and play songs that they have written or can even continue to write new music
Music greatly affects both the human body and mind. Music has positive and negative effects; music influences the way we think and behave; music has been around since before recorded history. Music is extremely important to the human race; it is our responsibility to make sure that it is being used in proper ways. Be aware of what you listen to; the beat of a song can cause you to either feel relaxed or anxious. However, even more so than the beat of a song, the lyrics of a song can influence the way you think. Lyrics of songs can be either uplifting or demeaning, the music you listen to not only affects you but it affects everyone else around you as well.
Music can enrich our lives; it can edify and inspire us to do good continually. Music has profound effects on our mind, spirit and behavior. Next time you turn on the radio pay attention to how you feel when you are listening to the music that is being played. Uplifting music can move you to make good choices, help you to excel in your education, and help you withstand the ways of the world. Although music can be good, constantly listening to music is not. You need to allow yourself time for thinking and feeling in peace and quiet. Again, Lao-Tze expresses, “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become action. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
People worry about kids playing with guns, and teenagers watching violent videos; we are scared that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands - literally thousands - of songs about broken hearts and rejection and pain and misery and loss.Adolescents, especially, are susceptible to the effects of music. The types of music adolescents listen to can be a predictor of their behavior. Those who listen to heavy metal and rap have higher rates of delinquent activity, such as drug and alcohol use, poor school grades, arrest, sexual activity, and behavior problems than those who prefer other types.
A majority of the music in today’s world is all about sex and drugs. Let’s say you have a song stuck in your head, the lyrics are playing through your mind. If the lyrics are talking about sex and drugs then the likelihood that you are thinking about sex and drugs is probable. Pretty soon those thoughts become actions. Lao-Tze once said, “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become action. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” The music you listen to can affect and change your entire life. The ability to experience and react to music is embedded in our nervous system.
Our brain reacts to music in different ways depending on whether a person is listening to music, playing an instrument, and whether or not the music involves lyrics. Author Michael D. Lemonick states, “A tune can induce emotions ranging from unabashed joy to deep sorrow and can drive listeners into states of patriotic fervor or religious frenzy--to say nothing of its legendary ability to soothe the savage beast.” Music can influence an individual, and those who play an instrument have an advantage over those who do not. Lemonick expresses, “Intensive practice of an instrument leads to discernible enlargement of parts of the cerebral cortex, the layer of gray matter most closely associated with higher brain function.” Many studies of music and the brain show the difference between the brains of those who study music and those who do not. Scientists are continually studying what happens inside the brain of listeners and musicians; the secret of music’s strange power. Scientists have studied famous composers who have experienced brain deficits as a result of injury and have found that after tragic accidents musicians can sometimes still remember and play songs that they have written or can even continue to write new music
It has been found that the way you listen to music also affects the way your brain responds to it.
Music greatly affects both the human body and mind. Music has positive and negative effects; music influences the way we think and behave; music has been around since before recorded history. Music is extremely important to the human race; it is our responsibility to make sure that it is being used in proper ways. Be aware of what you listen to; the beat of a song can cause you to either feel relaxed or anxious. However, even more so than the beat of a song, the lyrics of a song can influence the way you think. Lyrics of songs can be either uplifting or demeaning, the music you listen to not only affects you but it affects everyone else around you as well.
Music can enrich our lives; it can edify and inspire us to do good continually. Music has profound effects on our mind, spirit and behavior. Next time you turn on the radio pay attention to how you feel when you are listening to the music that is being played. Uplifting music can move you to make good choices, help you to excel in your education, and help you withstand the ways of the world. Although music can be good, constantly listening to music is not. You need to allow yourself time for thinking and feeling in peace and quiet. Again, Lao-Tze expresses, “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become action. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
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