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Heather McKay
ENG1010
November 24, 2016
Issue exploration

The Harmful Effects of Music

Music wakes us up in the morning, makes us want to dance, and soothes us when
we are feeling sad. From infancy to adulthood music is an important part of our lives.
Music is but one part of our popular culture and is often used as an outlet and an
accessible way for us to express and explore emotions that are uncomfortable talking about
or making known. Empathy through music is one of many ways that teens can help
establish who they are, partially because of the diversity of music. No matter what a teen
is interested in--from hip hop to pop to metal--there are a large amount of bands in each
music scene.
Music can summon a wide range of emotions, most of which are wonderful. Yet
there is some music that communicates harmful health messages, especially when it
reaches a vulnerable audience. We often ten to choose music by an artist we identify with
or one who seems to embody our generations trials and tribulations. In some cases, teens
use music as a safe way to rebel against their parents and develop their own separate
identity. There are many different messages in music. Some of which these influences can

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be positive on teens while others can be decisively negative. Whatever impact music has on
behavior is bound to be complex and variant. This kind of public issue demands a public
inquiry.
After much time and research the four lines of vision or point of views, I have
selected for this issue, I strongly believe will help the intended readers and audience be
able to critically think and take in all sides and information on the issue. In which I feel
will help the reader to analyze and decide a solution of their own choice.
The first point of view I pulled from my research, is from the Music Artist. They
believe the real issue lies within the artists who make their music from the life
experiences they have, in which they wish to share with the world or get out. It was shown
those artists who create music after traumatic experiences such as a family loss, a lover
who committed suicide, and also when they seem to be at the lowest peek of their life. The
albums and music created in such a time was found that youth suicide rates have tripled,
Unwed teen pregnancy has skyrocketed, and casual drug use among teens has jumped. In
which they strongly suggest music and albums such as these should not be allowed to be
made public or should be restricted in certain areas.

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The second point of view is from the voices which lie in the medical field, our
doctors. Music by itself has an effect on people. From low chords to high chords, from fast
beats to slow beats, music has an impact on behavior. Today's music and lyrical content
have undergone dramatic changes since the introduction of rock and roll more than forty
years ago. These changes have become an issue of vital interest and concern for society in
general. If a teenager is persistently preoccupied with music that has seriously destructive
themes, and there are changes in behavior such as isolation, depression, alcohol or other
drug abuse, evaluation by a qualified mental health professional should be considered.
The third chosen point of view is from the parents perspective. For kids with a
healthy self-image and varied interests, music probably has little or no influence on their
values and lifestyle choices. However, violent, racist, homophobic or sexist lyrics in music
can have big impact on youth. During the past four decades, music and lyrical content have
become increasingly explicit with references to sex, drugs, and violence. One in four
popular songs contains explicit references to drug or alcohol use. In which means kids are
receiving about 35 references to substance abuse from listening to music. The anti-social
themes common in popular music have even compelled some adults to rally against it,
especially heavy metal and rap. The perception and the effect of music-video messages are
important, because the exposure to violence, sexual messages, sexual stereotypes, and use

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of substances of abuse in music videos might produce significant changes in behaviors and
attitudes of young viewers.
The final point of view or voice is from the perspective of the children and the teens.
During the teen years, many people use music as an escape. Often, someone will try to find
lyrics that best identify with his or her present situation. Empathy through music is one of
many ways that teens can help establish who they are. Music is used to fill the place of
something thats missing or isnt there. There are also many different messages in music.
Some songs have lyrics that speak of a passionate love, while others speak of anger.
There's music for just about every mood a teen feels. When teens are at a vulnerable stage,
music can play a positive effect. While at the same time can also be a dangerous accident
waiting to happen, depending on the choice and decisions that are made.
Music can play a big role in the lives of our teens and children. Music is highly and
well known, to connect deeply with adolescents and to influence identity development,
perhaps more than any other entertainment medium. With that taken into note we also
need to deeply consider the big problem that is occurring even now. Teenagers listen to an
average of nearly 2.5 hours of music per day. When going about solving or improving this
problem, what actions and precaution should be made, given the different sides and
aspects of the issue? While it may be difficult to come to a full conclusion on music's effect

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on teenagers, it is important to remember that teens have many influences in life and at
any given time, a teen is being pulled in many directions. Music can be classified as just
one of these directions.

Works Cited

Dolegui, Arielle S. "The Impact of Listening to Music on Cognitive Performance."Inquiries

Journal/Student Pulse 09 (2013).

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Dworjan, Tania. "Music's Effect on Teenagers." LoveToKnow. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov.
2015.

Liljequist, Kevin C. "Does Music and Lyrical Content Influence Human Behavior?" Does

Music and Lyrical Content Influence Human Behavior? N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016

Ladel, Lewis. ""Hip Hop 's Influence on Crime Reporting in the Inner City."" N.p., 2012.

Web. 2012

Morin, Amy. "Can Music Be a Bad Influence on Kids & Teens?" LIVESTRONG.COM.

LIVESTRONG.COM, 11 Nov. 2015. Web. 04 Nov. 2016

Ransom, Tricia Fox. "Do Lyrics Impact

Wellbeing?" Http://repository.upenn.edu/mapp_capstone/94/?
utm_source=repository.upenn.edu%2Fmapp_capstone
%2F94&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages. N.p., 2015. Web.

Schfer, Thomas et al. The Psychological Functions of Music Listening.Frontiers in

Psychology4 (2013): 511. PMC. Web. 20 Oct. 2016.

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Tropeano, Eliana Of Undergraduate Psychological, and Vol. 1. 2006. "Does Rap or Rock

Music Provoke Violent Behavior?" Does Rap or Rock Music Provoke Violent Behavior?
(2006): 1-33. Web.

"Impact of Music, Music Lyrics, and Music Videos on Children and Youth." Table of

Contents. N.p.,n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2016