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Moye Balogun
Professor Malcolm Campbell
English 1103
8 Dec 2015
Music and mental health: The numerous effects of a song
Music. Music is fun. Music is entertainment. Music is passion. Some call music a
universal language. Some even compare it to a drug. There are many interpretations of what
music is within our society, but somehow looking at music from a scientific standpoint is
commonly overlooked. Many people still fail to acknowledge musics potential beyond the
improvement of leisure. Whether music can be medicine. Whether music can change the very
chemical structure of your mind. Whether music can heal you from within. Whether music can
make you increasingly prone to violence and angry outbursts. Whether music can even make you
want to end your life. According to numerous sources, music can do all these things; and in a
society increasingly plagued with mental and physical illness, more and more people are looking
to blame or rather receive help from this possible cause.
Among todays music listeners, it is almost common knowledge that listening to good
music makes one feel good. The extent to which music affects us, however, is not a publically
known fact. According to professor of psychology, behavioral neuroscience, and music, Daniel
Levitin, there is current evidence showing that music has the ability to alter brain chemistry to
produce components usually present in healthy immune systems: one of these components being
the cell element immunoglobulin. Immunoglobulin is one of the first antibodies sent out by the
immune system to fight against disease (Gray). In a study that tested 300 individuals, it was

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found that listening to 50 minutes of happy, joyful dance music increased immunoglobulin and
even decreased the stress hormone, cortisol (Gray). In other words, music has the ability to make
one healthier. Knowing this information, it is not a surprise that therapists have turned their eyes
to music as an avenue to healing.

Music and Therapy?

Music in and of itself relates to human mood. Whether it is upbeat to get one energized
for a workout or whether it is soothing to relax one at the end of the day, music and emotions are
connected. The basic human understanding of this spans multiple cultures. According to
experienced pharmacist Catherine Ulbricht from Psychology Today, Chinese medical theory
states that human internal organs have correlative musical tones that can be used for healing. In
Musicophilia by British novelist and neurologist, Oliver Sacks, he recounts numerous tales of
music helping people with various neurological conditions cope with their less than perfect
circumstances. Despite these ideals being conceived by different cultures, the unified approach
of music therapy is quickly developing into an increasingly utilized means of remedial treatment.
The practice of music therapy, also abbreviated as MT, can be defined as the the
clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within
a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music
therapy program (Music Therapy & Mental Health). In other words, therapists use music,
whether instrumental or vocal, to reach developmental milestones in patients. Many of these
patients are often individuals who might be dealing with or recovering from psychological issues
such as depression, anxiety, autism, addiction, and much more (Lin). Those who receive music

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therapy also range from children plagued with cancer (Landau) to those who have lost their
willpower to fight diseases like diabetes (Music Therapy & Mental Health).
Furthermore, when music therapy is being practiced, the music seldom stands alone. In
some cases, music is accompanied with purposeful visuals that alter an individuals perception in
hopes of encouraging creativity or even revealing suppressed emotions (Ulbricht). In the specific
case of depression, much research has been conducted on musics possible benefits. Depression
is considered a mood disorder (Ulbricht) and evidence suggests that when paired with
antidepressant medications, music increases patients responsiveness to the drugs (Ulbricht), thus
bettering their condition. It is also believed that in depressed adult women, music therapy may
lead to reductions in heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and depressed mood (Ulbricht).
Music therapy has proven to be positively influential and beneficial to various types of depressed
people.

The much-feared Metal music

When it comes to generally acceptable music, such as classical or even old-school soul,
the consensus seems to be in favor and agreement of its benefits. However, for extreme music,
such as heavy metal, categorized by loud, chaotic tones (Sharman, Dingle), the general public is
not as welcoming.
For decades there has been a stigma against Metal music and its listeners. Claims of
encouraging violence and mania have been a staple in the ideals of the concerned, parental
generations for years. In todays society, there is an alarming number of poor mental health
sufferers, especially in teens. According to cultureandyouth.org, adolescent suicidality is at an

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all-time high. Due to this, many have begun to scrutinize the popular genre of metal music,
whose lyrics seem to perpetuate several negative and unhealthy ideals. Well-known suicide pacts
among teen heavy metal fans are just another addition reinforcing the widespread concern
(Heavy Metal Music and Adolescent Suicidality). The main debate within this genre of music
is whether the music causes aggression or whether predisposed aggression attracts individuals to
the music. In Leah Sharman and Genevieve A. Dingles book, Extreme Metal Music and Anger
Processing, they take a look at heavy metal and other similarly aggressive genres and their
effect on how individuals handle anger. Again, one theory states that these types of music can
increase anger levels in listeners. On the other hand, some believe that this music actually helps
the listener deal with the anger they already possess. To test these theories, Sherman and Dingle
analyze a group of 39 metal listeners aged 18-34. They then subjected their subjects to
circumstances that naturally induce anger. The participants then listened to either 10 minutes of
extreme music from their playlist or 10 minutes of silence. The Positive and Negative Affect
Scale (aka. PANAS) was used to measure levels of hostility, irritability, stress, and anger
(Sharman, Dingle). It was shown that listening to the music following the anger induction
maintained the level of anger, while the silence decreased it. Since the music did not actually
make the participants angrier, it was deduced that the music simply matched the anger already
present and might have actually been a healthy way for them to process their emotions (Sharman,
Dingle).
Additionally, another study published by the American Psychology Organization, claims
that anger levels in Metal listeners are no different than the average individual (Jacobs). Rather,
they have deduced that there are significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression among
listeners of heavy metal/hard rock music, as compared with non-listeners. This is an interesting

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take on the topic, since many view this group of people as deviant rebels. This study seems to
almost put them in a sympathetic light.
Furthermore, in a French study that evaluated Metal music listeners on the Hospital
Anxiety Depression Scale (aka. HADS), there was evidence showing that listeners levels of
anxiety and depression are similar to and lower than the levels in the general population. This is
an aberration in the entire metal music listener impression. The study implies that the listeners
are actually no different from the general population, something many seem to fail to take into
account.

What about Rap?

Another popular genre, and maybe one of the most popular genres today, is Rap,
otherwise known as Hip Hop. Some say the beginnings of Rap date back to the West African
Griots (Rhodes), but Rap truly became increasingly prevalent in America in the late 70s with
songs such as Rappers Delight by the Sugar Hill Gang and The Breaks by Kurtis Blow;
both tracks who both went gold on the charts (Dye).
Fast-forward to present day and one can find several Rap songs filling the Top 100
charts. Despite its popularity, Rap music still doesnt seem to be a genre the general population
tends to favor. Sometimes characterized by aggressive tones, vulgar language, and possibly
misogyny, Rap hasnt been labeled appropriate for young people. Despite this, it is primarily the
youth that are fueling Raps ever increasing presence in music today.
Unfortunately, it seems that negative beliefs held about Rap might not be based on
opinion alone. In a 1995 study done on 46 African-American boys, aged 11 to 16, it was shown

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that exposure to violent Rap music videos made them more accepting of the use of violence in
hypothetical situations and more likely to commit the violent acts portrayed (Tropeano).
Additionally, Rap music has also been connected with increasing a childs likelihood to abuse
alcohol and develop an addiction (Study: Rap Music Linked to Alcohol, Violence).
On the other hand, Rap is not completely negative. According to a study done by Charles
Limb, Rap heightens brain activity, specifically, freestyle rap (in which the lyrics are
improvised). In this case, it is not the act of listening to the music that benefits, but rather
performing it. It was shown that even during a short freestyle session, the neurons in the
cerebellum, the controller of motor coordination, were highly active (Limb). In a publication
detailing the results of study led by Siyuan Liu, Ph.D., it was established that the act of
freestyling is associated with a unique functional reallocation of brain activity in the prefrontal
cortex and proposes a novel neural network that appears to be intimately involved in
improvisatory and creative endeavors (This is your brain on freestyle rap). Additional studies
have further established that freestyle raps strong lyrical improvisation bolsters creativity
within the mind.
Furthermore, it seems that when it comes to Rap, similar to some of the aforementioned
genres, it is not the music itself, but rather the message. For instance, in a study that tested 27
men, some of the men were given misogynous Rap music to listen to and some were asked to
listen to neutral Rap (Barongan, Nagayama qtd. in Tropeano). The subjects then had to view
three types of film clips: neutral, sexually-violent, and assaultive (Tropeano). Following this, the
men had to choose which clip they found most appealing. It was shown that participants who
viewed the sexual-violent stimuli indeed felt sexually violent towards women, even having
thoughts of raping and abusing women (Barongan, Nagayama qtd. in Tropeano). This goes to

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show that it is the meaning of the song, rather than the style, that proves to have the most
significant impact on our minds.
So in short, whether youre a lover of Metal or Rap, Rock or Pop, Country or Jazz, music
is a force that drives so much of what we do and who we are. Music influences the lives of so
many and can be what drives people together or what pulls people apart. It is honestly the
personal relationship with, and interpretation of, music that dictates its effect. It is up to the
individual, the artist, and the listeners to decide whether they give music the permission to hurt
society or better yet, give it the power to heal.

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Works Cited
Dye, David. The Birth of Rap: A Look Back npr.org. National Public Radio. 12 Dec 2012.
Web. 6 Dec 2015.
Gray, Richard. Music can boost your immune system telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. 16 Aug
2008. Web. 5 Dec 2015.
Heavy Metal Music and Adolescent Suicidality cultureandyouth.org. Culture and Youth
Studies. 2015. Web. 24 Sep 2015.
Jacobs, Tom. Anxiety, Depression High Among Young Heavy Metal Fans psmag.com. Pacific
Standard 16 Apr 2013 Web. 24 Sep 2015
Landau, Elizabeth. Music: It's in your head, changing your brain CNN.com. Cable News
Network. 28 May 2012. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.
Limb, Charles, et al. TEDTalks: Charles LimbYour Brain on Improv. ted.com. TED. Nov
2010. Web. 5 Dec. 2015.
Lin, Shuai-Ting, et al. "Mental Health Implications of Music: Insight from Neuroscientific and
Clinical Studies." Harvard Review of Psychiatry (Taylor & Francis Ltd) 19.1 (2011): 3446. Academic Search Complete. 1 Jan 2011 Web. 8 Oct 2015.
Music Therapy & Mental Health musictherapy.org. American Music Therapy Association.
2006. Web. 11 Oct 2015.
Rhodes, Henry A. The Evolution of Rap Music in the United States yale.edu. Yale-New Haven
Teachers Institute. N.D. Web 6 Dec 2015.
Sharman, Leah, Genevieve A. Dingle. Extreme Metal Music and Anger Processing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Center for Biotechnology Information. 21 May
2015. Web. 24 Sep 2015.

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Speaking of Psychology: Music and your health APA.org American Psychological Association.
N.D. Web. 19 Oct 2015.
Stack, S., David Lester, and Jonathan S. Rosenberg. Music and Suicidality: A Quantitative
Review and Extension Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 28 Sep 2012 Web. 8 Oct
2015.
Study: Rap Music Linked to Alcohol, Violence npr.org. National Public Radio. 8 May 2008.
Web. 7 Dec 2015.
This is your brain on freestyle rap nih.gov. National Institutes of Health. 15 Nov 2012. Web. 7
Dec 2015.
Tropeano, Eliana. Does Rap or Rock Music Provoke Violent Behavior? library.wcsu.edu
Journal of Undergraduate Psychological Research. 2006. Web. 6 Dec 2015
Ulbricht, Catherine Music Therapy for Health and Wellness psyhcologytoday.com. Psychology
Today. Jun 21 2013. Web. 24 Sep 2015.