Beautiful But Sad Music Can Help People Feel Better

Article C Beautiful But Sad Music Can Help People Feel B

ARTICLE C. “‘Beautiful but sad' music can help people feel better’ The study of psychology has brought about lots of fascinating discoveries and ideologies that are vital to human relations. A study report from the University of Kent says music can influence the mood of an individual in a particular way (University of Kent, 2014). Thus, this study seeks to illustrate how music can enhance or influence the mood of an individual. Music is an artistic tool that can take away the sadness from an individual.

The statement is in support of research conducted to show why people select a particular piece of music when experiencing a bad feeling and its results. The effect of this choice brings about a self-identified sad music on people’s moods. The report shows that if someone listens to a particular music with the intention of enhancing mood, it is possible either by this person first thinking of the contemporary situation or being distracted rather than listening to the music directly. The study is real.

Dr. Annemieke explains that music does not generate a mood but plays a strategic role towards achieving a certain attitude. Also, as a thought, music serves as a creative tool as it can make an individual create a new mood or destroy the current mood, depending on how they interpret the message (Van & Edwards, 2014). It is a thrill to discuss this topic as an expression of great interest.

Personally, I love listening to music quite often and in many ways, music has helped me solve psychological issues, whether consciously or subconsciously. In my experience, I have realized that music changes my way of thinking, which in turn influences my lifestyle. For example, listening to country music when in the upcountry and fancy music when in the city reflects how music responds to different contexts. This understanding only became clear after encountering studies on the psychology of music, revealing how dynamically music affects emotions and behavior.

In this context, mood enhancement is considered a puzzle; the situation is the thought, and music is the tool (Sleigh & McElroy, 2014). A well-balanced combination of these elements can induce any desired mood. Recently, I observed a colleague listening to smooth jazz while meditating, which struck me as unusual. When asked, they explained that the music helped balance their emotions during disturbing thoughts. I later discovered that this individual experienced ongoing psychological issues but subconsciously sought serenity through jazz music.

In the realm of psychological research, variables play a critical role. An independent variable is a factor manipulated to produce an impact on the dependent variable (Sidman, 1960). In this case, the music acts as the dependent variable, while the individual's thoughts or situational context are the independent variables influencing the emotional response. The research confirms that individuals tend to enhance their mood by listening to sad music, especially when their thoughts or mood states align with the emotional content of the music.

Moreover, the initial mental state or thoughts about the situation significantly influence how music affects mood. The music triggers emotional responses based on how the listener perceives its aesthetic or emotional value. However, the research omits specific details regarding challenges faced during experiments, such as individual differences among participants including intelligence, personality, and gender. These factors could serve as confounding variables affecting results. For instance, personality influences musical preferences and responses; individuals with different lifestyles may respond differently to the same music. Gender differences also play a role, with females often preferring softer music to soothe emotions, while males may listen to harder genres to manage anger (Sidman, 1960).

In conclusion, this article emphasizes the importance of music in understanding human behavior. As Sleigh illustrates, music is a tool capable of promoting peace and tranquility. By analyzing personal scenarios and choosing music that aligns with desired emotional states, individuals can systematically influence their moods. This process involves first understanding the situation, selecting an appropriate song based on its aesthetic qualities, and then integrating the music with mental states to achieve specific emotional outcomes.

References

• Sidman, M. (1960). Tactics of scientific research: Evaluating experimental data in psychology. Basic Books.
• Sleigh, M. J., & McElroy, J. (2014). The effect of music listening versus written reframing on mood management. Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 31(4).
• The University of Kent. (2014, February 19). 'Beautiful but sad' how music can help people feel better. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 17, 2015, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140219091121.htm
• Van den Tol, A. J., & Edwards, J. (2014). Listening to sad music in adverse situations: How music selection strategies relate to self-regulatory goals, listening effects, and mood enhancement. Psychology of Music.
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