How Music Can Change the Way You Feel

Music’s influence on our emotions is vast and fascinating. It holds sway over our moods, perceptions, and even actions, showcasing its power to change how we feel. Let’s delve into some surprising ways that music sways our feelings and perception of the world.

How Music Influences our Emotions, Feelings, and Behaviors | Dr. Amy Belfi | TEDxMissouriS&T

Music vibrations touch more than our eardrums; they reverberate through our emotions, moods, and perceptions, deeply impacting our human experience. Whether it’s the adrenaline rush at a live concert, the joy of a beloved song on the radio, or the comfort of a lullaby, music weaves its magic in incredibly diverse ways.

1. Listening to Music Consciously is an Effective Mood Elevator

Music, with its plethora of tones and melodies, holds the key to modifying our emotional state. When we consciously choose uplifting music and immerse ourselves in its rhythm and harmony, we experience a significant mood elevation.

Over time, this practice fosters an effective and self-regulating emotional tool.

2. Music Featuring Violent Lyrics Can Instigate Negative Emotions

A study by Craig A. Anderson, Nicholas L. Carnagey, and Janie Eubanks showed that when college students listened to music with violent lyrics, they felt more aggressive than those who listened to songs without violent words.

This was true for different kinds of songs, showing that the words in a song can have a big effect on our emotions. This study tells us that music isn’t just background noise; it can deeply influence how we feel, whether it’s making us feel happy, sad, excited, or even angry.

3. Music Potentially Has Therapeutic Power

The healing power of music – How does music impact us? | DW Documentary

Music impacts many parts of the brain in ways which we don’t fully understand.

The video above highlights that the therapeutic potential of music in clinical settings is vast and multifaceted. It potentially has the power to alleviate physical symptoms, and to provide emotional healing, making it a powerful ally in medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Of course, we always have to be careful when making such medical claims. However there plenty of studies around music therapy that music can have real positive effects on us.

4. Concerts and Festivals Are Positive Shared Experiences

There’s a unique pleasure derived from shared experiences, especially when it comes to music.

The crowd’s collective enthusiasm at concerts and festivals stirs a potent emotional resonance, boosting the overall joy of the musical experience.

The communal harmony of such events becomes a factor for heightened enjoyment.

5. Background Music in Retail Spaces Subtly Steers Shopping Decisions

A field study in a supermarket demonstrated the subconscious influence of music on shopping habits.

By playing German or French music, it inadvertently drove customers to purchase the corresponding country’s wine.

Interestingly, customers were oblivious to the musical manipulation behind their purchasing decisions.

So the next time a holiday comes around, listen to the shift in music in the stores you shop at and see if you notice yourself purchasing something that otherwise wouldn’t have been on your shopping list.

6. High-Tempo Music Creates a Perception of Time Passing Faster

Music, with its varying tempo, has the power to manipulate our sense of time. Upbeat music can create an illusion of time flying by, while slower rhythms seem to stretch moments.

This principle often finds application in waiting areas, where music is employed to craft a pleasant temporal perception.

7. It Makes Boring Tasks More Enjoyable and Boosts Performance

It should come as no surprise just how music can change the way you feel when doing menial tasks.

Music can transform the most boring and tedious chores into fun and enjoyment.

Pairing mundane tasks with rhythmic melodies stimulates mood-elevating brain chemicals, transforming boredom into enjoyment and fueling productivity. A melodic boost can make even the most tedious chores seem entertaining.

8. Calming Music Before Bedtime May Enhance Sleep Quality

Sleep Music Delta Waves: Relaxing Music to Help you Sleep, Deep Sleep, Inner Peace

A journal by the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care noted that various studies show that between 10%–30% of the population may have some form of insomnia (with some estimating as high as 50%–60%).

Music is not necessarily a cure for insomnia but it can potentially help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Humans have used lullabies for centuries, and instrumental, slow, or calming music can help your body associate it with bedtime.

9. It Makes You More Motivated To Work Out

Get more from your workouts with high-tempo music. Athletes exercising to fast-paced tunes often push their physical limits, covering more distance or reps.

Music, therefore, serves as a motivating exercise companion that encourages maximum effort.

10. Personal Exploration of Music Genres Contributes to Identity Formation and Emotional Expression

Discovering your own taste in music is a large part of growing up. You experiment with different genres when young and this allows you to find things you resonate and identify with.

As individuals explore different music genres, they connect with melodies that resonate with their emotions and experiences. This process of discovery and connection aids in shaping one’s identity and cultural assimilation.

Final Thoughts

Music is dynamic and it can have such a diverse range of impacts on us that we don’t even realize it is happening, both mentally and physically.

It can change your mood, for better or for worse, and can potentially affect us in ways we don’t fully understand.

Music can certainly change the way we feel, it’s simply a matter of how much or how little it can do and how we can tap this to our advantage!