Effects of Music on the Mood

Music is an art form which has been a part of human life for thousands of years, and some would even say that it is part of being human. It plays a very important role in the normal human life, and it has been found to have some very beneficial values for those who listen to it. There are some who believe that music has a very great effect in determining the emotions or mood of those who listen to it, but there is some doubt about this in some quarters. These state that music has no real effect on the mood of individuals and that it has nothing to do with the way they behave when they are listening to it (Boothby & Robbins, 205). Some scholars, on the other hand, believe that music indeed does have a huge effect on people’s moods in whatever environment in which they are. This is because music can be found everywhere today, from our own homes to the places where we go to shop or work (Chamorro-Premuzic & Furnham, 176). This music has a lot of influence on those who listen to it because it not only calms them down; it also ensures that they become more focused on what they are doing. The effect of music has become so common among many people that they barely even notice it anymore. However, its influence can still be seen, because many continue to listen to it, even though it is done at a subconscious level.

Studies have shown that music has an influence in encouraging people to undertake physical activities (Murrock & Higgins, 2250). It has been suggested that music can be used to encourage people, all over the world, to undertake the recommended physical activities. This is to ensure that they do not fall victim to diseases which come about as a result of a lack of exercise, which include diabetes and hypertension. It has been said that more than 60% of the world’s population does not take any physical activity to avoid these health problems; and it has been suggested that music be put forward as the best solution for this problem. Music can be used very subtly in this case because by its very nature, it encourages body movement which results in the recommended physical activity. Kreutz et al (103) suggest that music can be used to induce emotions and that the various sounds that come from it may, in fact, enable the revelation of emotions in people. One of the best examples given is when one listens to the different varieties of Classical music. Whether the tone of the music is sad, happy, or angry, it will be noticed that the mood of the person listening to it will change according to the changes in the tones. If the tone is happy, then the mood of the person, and the accompanying facial expression, will also be happy. This has made music one of the most preferred methods of treating various psychological problems due to the calming effect it has on the patients involved. It can therefore be said that music, whether we like it or not, is very influential in affecting the mood of those individuals listening to it. This effect not only encourages physical activity but it also functions as a medium for encouraging focus in certain individuals.