Research+Process


 * Thesis:** Music influences actions/behavior because it contributes to thoughts, connects to memories and instills emotions within peoples mind.

< [] __**E.** JSTOR: Trusted Archives For Scholars__. 04 Mar. 2009 < [|http://www.jstor.org/stable/30032173?] **F.**"Is Music Neutral?" __Dial-the-Truth Ministries a Christian Resource and Tract Ministry__. 11 Mar. 2009 < [] 1. “A well established fact is the human body and mind can be controlled and altered with music. Many scientific and medical studies have proved conclusively the tremendous effects of music upon the human physiology and anatomy. Music is used to lower blood pressure, treat mental illness, depression, mental retardation, insomnia and many others.” (Is music Neutral 1) Corey Roane April 2, 2009 Music is more then just entertainment for many people. It is a form of life and reality. Music enables people to enter a different realm and see things from a different perspective . That’s why the discussion on how influential music can be is such a controversial issue. Music covers many different topics from; drugs, money, women, school and much more. Sometimes the themes being conveyed give negative harsh messages. For this reason many adults feel that music should be monitored carefully. There are countless type of different genres of music which is why it reaches out to a diverse group of people, young and old. Music has a different impact on the person depending on how strongly they can relate to the lyrics. For many a song may make them recall a old memory in there life. This is why music causes many people to act a certain way or become in a certain mood. Music can influence actions and moods because it contributes to thoughts, connects to memories and instills emotions within people’s minds. Music is used for many different reasons and is known to influence how a person thinks and the actions they are going to commit. In the mall, classical music is played to relax are minds and make us feel at ease. This is done because the employer wants us to feel at home and comfortable so that are minds can be open to are surroundings. Now think about the times that you are sitting in at a dentist office. While you’re waiting for your name to be called many distinctive thoughts are running through your head. This is why usually they play some type of smooth jazz in the waiting room to comfort you. Even though you may be thinking about a tooth that is going to get pulled, this music puts you in a mind state were everything is going to be fine. This is just two of the ways that music is used to influence are thoughts. If we are going through a time of trouble and distress music can calm us down and make us more relaxed. Sometimes the music we listen to impacts are thinking and provokes thoughts because we may be dealing with a situation that an artist is discussing in his lyrics. This is where negative messages play an important part of what you are listening to. “If you listen to music with negative harsh words or themes, you might want to consider that many times when listening to music, people have a tendency to enter in an altered state of awareness. This conscious mind is distracted with work, but the subconscious, or inner mind is recording and storing it” ( Burchard 2). This proves that even though oblivious to the fact, we do take in many of the lyrics and songs that we listen to. Eventually this accumulates in are brain. Ultimately these actions are taken into consideration. Everyone during there life time reminisces on there past. This is another major reason why music may affect a person so strongly. Since music is usually a story of some sort anyone can relate. Some songs that an artist makes may cause you to recall a similar time in your life when something along the same lines has happened to you. “ You might remember a time were you were really sad, and that song came on the radio, virtually anchoring itself to that sad feeling. Your brain would create a direct link between the song and the emotion, so every time you hear the song, that emotion is accessed as well “ (Burchard 1). This is especially common when what the artist may be focusing on has happened to you. This is why many people look at music as if it is a language. A language that everyone understands. As we see, the power of music is under estimated by many. People can respond to music in so many different ways. What if you are listening to a song that always came on when you and your significant other broke up ? This may cause a individual to undergo some distressing feelings that someone wouldn’t have wanted to think about. This brings stress in a persons life were as a inspirational song would bring happiness. The problem is sometimes lyrics are taken too literally from the reader. This is becoming a big problem in today’s society because of all the violence. Many young people are getting teased and becoming victims of circumstances. Then they might go hear a song that suggest they handle the situation with violence and bitterness which of course isn’t the best approach. This is what many school administrations and school boards discussed after the Columbine School shooting. The two boys Eric and Dylan who committed the crime were known to listen to gothic and rock music. This genre of music tends to have violence brutal lyrics that can be misinterpreted by some kids. These kids were listening to this music before they began the shooting. Even though the kids were known to get bullied around school and that is what is blamed for the crime many adults blame the music. Since some of this type of genre if music is violent is said to have influenced the shooting. Many tragedies such as these results because of what a fan took the wrong way or possibly believed was the best decision. The influence of music doesn’t just stop there. There is a Psychopathic hip/rap group called the Juggalos. They are pretty popular on the west coast. These groups of artist dress up as clown and produce violent, belligerent songs. All the lyrics have some type of hostility which is actually taken out in a physical manner. Since these group of artist have all grown up in poverty stricken places they produce music on the products that they group around which consist of very little positive experiences. This genre of music is spreading very quickly and since it is gaining so much support many young teenagers are joining it more and more. This shows that music is gaining more power in regards to the younger generation. What is so fascinating is that this diverse hip hop group listens to this music and acts out these horrible deeds. Ultimately music has more control then it is given credit for. Music can provoke many different types of actions and is the cause for much of the outcomes of today’s youth.
 * A.** O’Donnell "Music and the Brain." __"Brain & Mind" Magazine - WWW Home Page__. 11 Mar. 2009 < [] >.
 * 1) “Music was the key that helped Albert Einstein become one of the smartest men who has ever lived.” ( O’Donnel 6)
 * 2) “Music is thought to link all of the emotional, spiritual, and physical elemts of the universe.” (O’Donnel 2)
 * 3) “Music also has the ability to strengthen or weaken emotions from a particular event such as a funeral.” (O’Donnel 2)
 * 4) “People perceive and respond to music in different ways.” (O’Donnel 2)
 * 5) “Classical music causes the heart beat and pulse rate to relax to the beat of the music. As the body becomes relaxed and alert, the mind is able to concentrate more easily.”(O’Donnel 2)
 * 6) “The simultaneous left and right brain action maximizes learning and retention of information. The information being studied activates the left brain while the music activates the right brain.” (O’Donnel 2)
 * 7) “Also activities which engage both sides of the brain at the same times, such as playing an instrument or singing, causes the brain to be more capable of processing information”(O’Donnel 2)
 * 8) “It was found that slow music could slow the heartbeat and the breathing rate as well as bring down blood pressure. Faster music was found to speed up these same body measurements.” (O’Donnel 4)
 * 9) “Students also develop faster physically.” (O’Donnel 6)
 * B.** Burchard, Tracey"Music for Stress Management." __Article Brain__. 04 Mar. 2009 < []
 * 1) “Listening to a sad song can make us feel melancholy, soft jazz piano can calm and soothe us, and rock can make us feel strong, excited, even free. Music is used in malls to put us in the mood to buy, in churches for inspiration and much more.” (Burchard 1)
 * 2) “Music is energy-vibrations that have a certain frequency. Our brainwaves may adjust to match the vibrations of the music. This is why music can be very effective for meditation and hypnosis, it can actually :entrain” the brain to enter a deeper, or more relaxed, aware state”
 * 3) “ You might remember a time were you were really sad, and that song came on the radio, virtually anchoring itself to that sad feeling. Your brain would create a direct link between the song and the emotion, so every time you hear the song, that emotion is accessed as well. “ (Burchard 1)
 * 4) “If you listen to music with negative harsh words or themes, you might want to consider that many times when listening to music, people have a tendency to enter in an altered state of awareness. This conscious mind is distracted with work, but the subconscious, or inner mind is recording and storing it” ( Burchard 2)
 * 5) "Words can also have a large effect on us...there may be words in the music that really resonate with you, like in some inspirational songs. You may relate to the story of a song because of a similar experience. These things can strike a chord (pun intended) with you and alter your mood." (Burchard 1)
 * C.** Keshen, Alex"Does Music Affect Teens? Can the Music Youth Listen to Affect Their Behavior?" __Child Psychology @ Suite101.com__. 23 Feb. 2009
 * 1) //Columbine//“ The two shooters, Eric Harris and Dylan Kleboid, were heavy metal and Goth music fans, it seemed to be that the media immediately instilled a moral panic about that particular genre of music. More specifically targeted in the Columbine shootings was singer Marilyn Manson.” (Keshen 1)
 * 2) “Similar to but not to the same extinct the media made a point to mention that Kimverr Gill the Shooter at the more recent Sept. 13 2006 shooting at Dawson College in Montreal, Que.,followed the music and lifestyle of a Goth.”(Keshen 1)
 * D.** Kirchheimer, Sid. "Does Rap Music Put Teens at Risk?" __WebMD - Better information. Better health.__ 25 Feb. 2009 < [] >.
 * 1) “ After studying 522 black girls between the ages of 14 and 18 from non-urban, lower socioeconomic neighborhoods, researchers found that compared to those who never or rarely watched these videos, the girls who viewed these gangsta videos for at least 14 hours per week were far more likely to practice numerous destructive behaviors.” (Kirchheimer 1)
 * 2) “Over the course of the one-year study, they were; three more times likely to hit a teacher” ( Kirchheimer 1)
 * 3) “Over 2.5 times more likely to get arrested” (Kirchheimer 1)
 * 4) “Twice as likely to have multiple sexual partners” (Kirchheimer 1)
 * 5) “1.5 times more likely to get a sexually transmitted disease, use drugs, or drink alcohol.” (Kirchheimer 1)
 * 1) “Music is inside me and I am listening to myself while im listening to music” (JSTOR 287)
 * 2) “Music engulfs us and at the same time, spontaneously brings to our minds meaningful memories, mental pictures, and experiences from our past without pain and anxiety” (JSTOR 289)
 * 3) “Music is a social thing; it is interaction, communication and community” (JSTOR 291)
 * 4) “Music is heteronymous; it is closely related to out everyday experience” (JSTOR 291)
 * 5) “Music is form of sensory stimulation that provokes responses due to the familiarity, predictability, and feelings of security associated with it” (JSTOR 297)