Psychology

For my research project, I will try to learn why and how does music emotionally affect people
Answering the question is important to me because music has completely changed my life and I want to see how it has affected others as well. Moreover I want to study the benefits of having music around ones daily life and more importantly its drawbacks as well.

The answer to my question is important to some other people because they would also be curious like I am. It is an interesting topic to research about and I would try to serve the purpose of this research project i.e. to know the pros and cons of music in peoples lives and how it has affected them.
According to my knowledge I believe music mainly has positive effect on people. Music is the only source where one can rely on by putting aside all the worries and tensions from a hectic and busy life. I think it makes you want to relax and enjoy the moment as it is. The reason that music affects state of mind of an individual is because it has the characteristics that take away the uncertainties and the fears of a person behind and they just go with the flow. By characteristics I mean the type of music that fits your mood classic, country, rock etc.

The research question has already been discussed in the introduction. We know music has an effect on humans life but how does it affect them. Furthermore, what is the reason behind its influence on the people

In order to come up with the best answer to my question I used secondary data available on the internet and interviewed my peers regarding this issue.
   
I interviewed some of my class fellows and other outside friends who are some what associated with music. The number of people I interviewed was ten. The reason for only ten people interviewed was that I was already researching from journal articles books etc. and I did not want to use large data to compare it with the secondary source making it complicated for myself and the readers. Therefore, I will summarize on the quantitative results I got and will then continue to the qualitative research from the recent internet sources as well as the books.

The questions I asked in the interview were related to the number of people who listen to music firstly and the reason why they listen to it. Next it was asked the type of music they listen to. Then in the third and forth question they were asked the relationship of music with their mood and behavior respectively and especially with reasoning as to how its related.  Subsequently, they were asked the benefits of music and its advantages and disadvantages were discussed.

Almost all the respondents replied yes for the first question. 8 out of 10 said they regularly listen to music. For the reason they pretty much responded the same and i.e. that no specific reason. Music makes them relax and at times to get their things done like home work or house chores even driving. Because most of them were my age group they said music is their life and while they hang out with their friends and party they play music and enjoy it. The rest dont listen to music that often.
Eight respondents that listen to the music almost daily listen to mostly rock and hip hop. But 3 out of 8 like classical soft music more. And the rest who dont listen to music much said they prefer any music playing because with their busy schedule any genre of music would do as long as it releases the mind pressure of everyday routine.

All the 10 people said yes music does affects their moods. The 8 that are most interested in music described how music changes their mood from being sad to being encouraged and motivated. It helps them forget the sourness and emptiness of their lives. Everyone in their lives seems to have that moment when no one can understand your feelings and you want to spend some time alone for yourself. This is when music helps the best. And this is the response I got from almost all of them for the reason of how and why music has an effect on their mood.

When it was asked if music has an effect on their behavior 30 said yes it does affect their behavior but in a positive way. One of them said music help them learn material faster than without music. According to one, listening to rap when they are angry sometimes make them do crazy things like break stuff but only when the matter is very serious and the situation becomes uncontrollable. On the other hand one said when they are upset and listen to soft music wants to make them forgive away what ever has happened and go back to their normal behavior.

According to the 50 of respondents, music does not directly affect behavior of the people but it affects their moods and eventually with the mood behavior changes. They think that people who go violent when listening to rap or rock music when they are angry is due to the circumstances and the environment that is built in and not the music itself. But they do think that some point in time music indirectly affects the behavior of a person depending on his or her surroundings.

They said music can only bring about a positive effect on an individual in turn the behavior.70 thought people benefit from music. Benefits can be in the form of relaxation, pleasure and amusement. They pondered on the social benefits and social well being of the people as they werent aware of the medical advantages that it may give. The rest 30 thought benefits of music depends on the person. How one reacts to it and uses it in his life. It may be beneficial or even harmful if too much time is spend listening to music that you ignore your other priorities.
       
Only these 30 looked at the negative aspect of music. They also thought that too much can disturb ones studies and he or she may not be able to concentrate. Thus there has to be a balance in this too.
The interview helped me learn that people like music because it helps them get away with the regular routine, enjoy and forget about the cruel reality of life. What I concluded from the interviews was that there are still people who dont think music affect their behavior but yes it does affect their mood. Finally, I found that people favor more for the benefits of music than against it.
           
The material I found from the articles and journals proves my argument right i.e. music has positive effect on the people. Besides the benefits I mentioned and my peers, I was amazed at the psychological and medical benefits it offers.

Music is an essential part of history from the day man evolved, culture was built, and lifestyle was created.

Listening to a bit of music can leave a memory forever if it is attached to a specific place or someone special. An e.g. is of wedding song or music of ones prom of their high school.
Music is embedded in all the cultures of the worlds. It is tend to be a vital action of man. However, the history doesnt show any recordings or passing of music on to generations. Hence, there is no existence of old age music.

Anthony Storrs in his book Music and The Mind said that Music is attached to us in a natural way that even if we want to detach from it we wont be able to.

The impact of music on humanity can be evident from recent history. Thomas Jefferson, the author of declaration of Independence was able to write it because of music through playing violin. Although he was considered as stupid from school teachers and advised to work instead. Through music he was able to put words on the paper. Similarly music helped Albert Einstein, the smartest men known on earth by using music.  (Sacks, 34)

Science has proven the positive and negative aspects of music which are immediate and permanent. Music is associated with ones emotions, spirituality and the touch of nature. Besides changing ones mood it can also get physical response from individuals. But it can also affect in a negative way as emotions created in a funeral. (Shinn)

Music brings changes to the mind and body. It is a mixture of energy and sound. Music is followed by rhythm, pitch tone etc. music affects one both emotionally and physically. It is a powerful tool to soothe your mood, arouse emotions and energize yourself (Shinn)

Music can affect the human body by arousing feelings into them, changing brain waves, influencing the respiratory system, heart rate, pulse, blood pressure, plummeting muscle strain, civilizing and coordinating body movements, regulating stress hormones, enhancing the immune system, growing ones memory, increasing productivity, promoting romance and relationships, help digestive system, and creating a sensibility of protection and comfort. (Sacks, 93)

Music can excite feelings. An e.g. would be the dentist tour. When we go to the dentist for anything that involves the use of drill, we get scared by just the sound of it. We would try to avoid it as much possible. The sound of it makes us horrified. But music can help drive out our fear away.  (Lewis et al.64)

Music has the power to play with our brain waves by either slowing it down or equalizing it. Brain has four different ways beta, Alpha, Theta, and Delta. They are measurable in hertz.
Beta- 14-20 hertz
Alpha- 9-13 hertz
Theta- 4-7 hertz
Delta- 5-3 hertz

Strong emotions are attached to Beta waves that carry on our daily routine. Alpha on the other hand, occurs when we are calm and conscious. Sleeping, meditating, or inspired mood leads to theta waves. The deeper these three activities take place we fall into Delta waves. It is said that the slower these waves are, we will feel relaxed, happy and at peace. Slow music will lower the pulse beat whereas, strong music like drumbeat will shift the brain waves from alpha to theta.

Different genre of music changes ones behavior for e.g. if you are not focused and listening to Baroque type music for a while, you will be able to increase your mental alertness and consciousness. All this is a proven fact which cannot be argued or denied. (Sacks, 51)

Music also affects the respiratory system as well. There is a rhythm a pattern in our breathing. We all know this from physical fitness programs that deep breathing helps you calm your nerves and give you a better control over your emotions and enhances your metabolism. Faster breathing on the other hand can make people to do mistakes.

Therefore when we listen to music, our breathing is affected. If one is listening to the music and dancing his head around means he is listening to fast track music which will result in fast breathing. However, this does not pertain to everyone. For some it may be that fast music still makes them relaxed. But it does affect the breathing of a person. (Hudson)

Similar to the breathing, is the heart beat of a person. How we react to the music is our heart reacts to it similarly. Our heart speeds and slows on the volume and frequency of the music. Slow music lowers the heart beat reducing tension, worries and stress. With the heart beat is linked to pulse rate which is also affected alike. Studies also show that blood pressure can be increased by music. Not all music raises blood pressure. Al this information helps us know what music can do our body. (Sacks, 90)
To prove that music can help enhance body movements, a study in university in Colorado stated that through music you can get control over our muscles, and it also helps your mood and motivate you. (Sacks, 38)

Music can also affect the body temperature. We can see that by the example of how fingernails would sound on a chalk board, just reading this gives me weird feeling inside. Different sounds can change our body temperature from heat to cold. Loud music may raise our body temperature while soft music lowers it. With music, our blood circulation is affected and so does the pulse rate, breathing and so on.
Music is also a regulator of stress related hormones. When one listens to soft music, there is a decline in stress hormones of the blood. This helps overcome the medication requirement if you are really stressed. People that have stressful jobs tend to listen to music to relax.

Music enhances the immune system. The recent research shows those that lack specific amount of oxygen in their blood may have deficient immune system. Music however solves this problem by giving oxygen in the cells. (Sacks, 73)

Music does a lot of beneficial things for us that we dont even realize. People dont pay much attention to what music does to their lives. They should give some credit to it for not getting sick. It keeps their blood pressure and pulse rate lower and the heartbeat normal. Some people believe it is music that changes their lives some point in time. (Hudson)

There is no direct relationship scientifically between the two. It is just natural that when you are angry you want to listen to hard and loud music while being sad wants you to hear melodies and cry away your issues. It lets you flow out your emotions freely. Music changes the moods of the people but not particularly ones behavior (Lewis et al ,85).

By the research I have conducted from journal articles, I realize the fact that music actually helps to live our lives better. We only looked at those benefits like relaxation and pleasure but we did not look upon the benefits medically. Music is way of motivation and encouragement. Our different types of emotions are prompted by music. It changes the emotional and physical state of mind of a person.
Regardless of all the benefits I also think that patients with blood pressure problems or other health related issues may be affected negatively if they are listening to loud music. It may be that the reaction comes out opposite of what was expected due to other various health problems related with it. But as far as I have researched there is no dangerous factor in listening to music for any one. Music is the only thing that makes you want to forget everything and free your emotions.

Today, researchers and scientists are also discovering that music helps heal the patients faster. Music therapies at the hospitals are helping treat the patients better.

Recommendations
I suggest that everyone should take the numerous advantages given by music. Once in a while people should put side all the stress and take some time out for themselves. Music can do much more that we can imagine.

We all have a tough and busy life. Work, school and home there is seldom time for relaxation and meditation. We can join music classes for the weekend like playing violin. Even those who arent confident that they can play it but its worth trying. After all it helped the smartest people like Einstein. If we try, our interest will build. This eventually will keep our brain conscious and heart beat, pulse rate and other things at normal level.

Conclusion
Music is indeed a source of control for physical and mental state of mind. It is music that makes our other systems stronger like respiratory, immune and digestive system. With the help of music, medical science is able to heal their patients quicker. To me music has never made such an importance merely for amusement. But it is more to it, after the research and analysis. Music gives us pleasure and at the same time is healthy for us. Thus everyone needs to involve music in some part of their lives.