The Psychology of Music: Why We Love Listening to Music
Janvi Arora
- 16 September, 2024
- 9 min read
Table of Contents
Imagine listening to your favourite song. How does it make you feel? Do you feel happy and more at ease, or does it flood you with a sudden feeling of nostalgia? Such is the effect music has on us: it makes us feel emotions. An assistant professor at Washington State University once said, “Music is the emotion you hear.”
Researchers have proven that listening to music has several benefits and is extremely pleasurable. However, it doesn’t offer any clear evolutionary benefits. Then, why do we burn a hole in our pockets to attend concerts, sing our favourite songs at the top of our lungs, and become so invested in new albums rolling out?! There must be some legitimate reasons behind this, right? Therefore, in this blog, we will explore why we love listening to music. Here, the field of music psychology comes in – it explores the fascinating connection between music and the human mind.
i. Music Lights Up Our Pleasure Centers
Have you ever felt chills after listening to a particular song? It’s a commonly experienced feeling by music lovers, regardless of what genre you like. As previously mentioned, there is no doubt that music is obviously pleasurable. And, we have facts to support this statement! Music isn’t just a treat for your ears, it’s a powerful trigger for our brain’s reward system. In this aspect, the field of music and psychology can offer some interesting insights.
When we listen to music we enjoy, the ventral tegmental area, a region deep within the brain, gets activated and starts producing dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, learning, and motivation, commonly called the happy hormone. The dopamine release makes us want to keep listening, which leads to more dopamine, forming a loop. This is why we find it so difficult to get out of that music marathon.
We all know music can make you feel good, but have you ever wondered why you get goosebumps from certain songs? That’s a whole other mystery! When we hear a song we already love, we anticipate the pleasure we will get from our favourite melody or the emotional attachment to the song, which elevates the dopamine response. This fusion of anticipation and pleasure is a potent combination, suggesting we are biologically driven to listen to music we like.
However, people with a neurological condition called anhedonia are incapable of deriving pleasure from music. They understand and recognize musical familiarity, according to music psychology research, but fail to enjoy it, highlighting the deep connection between music and the pleasure centres of our brain.
ii. Music makes us instantly move our body
I find it almost impossible to resist swaying my body when someone plays my favourite dance songs. According to you, what could be the psychological reason behind our irresistible urge to tap our feet and nod our heads while listening to the songs we love? This phenomenon can be explained by the psychology of music, which delves into how our minds and bodies react to music.
There are two main theories behind this simple rhythmic movement. The first is the motor theory of perception, which suggests that when we hear rhythmic music, our brain stimulates the action it thinks creates the sound, resulting in movements like tapping feet or nodding heads.
Another theory focuses on the concept of entertainment, suggesting that our bodies naturally synchronize with external rhythms. Therefore, when we hear a rhythmic sound, our motor system tries to match up, resulting in movements like foot tapping, swaying, or nodding.
One of my favourite sights in public transport is seeing people rhythmically nodding their heads and being immersed in music. It’s a beautiful sight to see people enjoying music, isn’t it?
iii. Music Evokes and Shapes Our Feelings
Music is a roller coaster ride. It makes you feel different emotions, and you can still be surprised and delighted, even when you think you know what’s coming. This emotional rollercoaster is precisely what music psychology studies.
Music can evoke and shape our feelings to a great extent. Psychology about music reveals a fascinating connection between music and our emotions. Uplifting melodies and smooth rhythms make us smile wide. For instance, songs played in major chords make us happy, whereas songs played in minor chords sound melancholic and can evoke sadness.
Similarly, fast tempos and driving beats get our blood pumping and make us excited. On the other hand, slow and calming music activates relaxation centres.
Apart from that, music also plays a role in unlocking memories and making us nostalgic. Whenever I listen to songs I used to sing in school choirs, it takes me back to that time and instantly makes me nostalgic.
At times, we fall short of words and find some songs that can better explain our feelings. Such songs evoke our feelings and give us a fresh perspective on things. So, we can say music lets us connect with emotions, enriches our inner world and offers a powerful tool for emotional expression.
iv. Music can reduce stress
We all have some comfort playlists we tune into the moment things go out of hand, right?! These playlists act as an escape from our problems and help us destress. Such is the effect of music: it significantly reduces stress. This phenomenon is one of the areas of study within music psychology. Researchers have found that listening to music impacts the human stress response, especially the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the autonomic nervous system.
It’s observed that people who listen to music are more likely to get over a stressful situation since they can cope and manage stress better than their counterparts who do not listen to music. Evidence also shows that listening to high-frequency music can increase oxytocin levels, which induce anti-stress-like effects by reducing blood pressure and cortisol levels.
Are you aware of music therapy? It has been gaining popularity nowadays since music proves to be a great stress buster and is an effective treatment for several disorders, including depression. For example, classical music and meditative music are found to be mood-boosting and work efficiently in reducing symptoms of depression.
v. Music motivates us
Another psychological reason why we love listening to music is because it motivates us. Have you observed how exercising while you’re blasting music is easier and more enjoyable? The reason behind it lies in the fact that listening to fast-paced music drives people to work out harder. It is so because when you listen to music while exercising, you perceive less exertion, allowing you to exercise for a longer duration. The reason behind this is likely the release of dopamine, which regulates motivation and goal-oriented behaviour.
Music doesn’t only motivate us to exercise harder but also to get through a tough day at work (for instance, the Monday blues) or get prepped for a big presentation. So, the next time you feel demotivated at school or before your big day at work, crank up your favourite song at a high volume and let the greatness flow in.
vi. Music is a valued companion
“Music is a constant companion throughout our lives.”
Personally speaking, I turn to music every time I feel alone, and it never fails to comfort me. Be it during long commuting hours or while walking at night, music is a loyal companion to me. And, I believe I’m not the only one.
Whether you need a burst of energy or a lullaby for the soul, music shapeshifts to fit all your needs and becomes your ally on your emotional journey.
The psychology behind music’s power as a valued companion lies in the fact that music has an uncanny ability to mirror our emotions. Upbeat songs and cheerful melodies trigger the release of dopamine, which boosts our mood. On the other hand, slow beats and sad tunes can resonate with feelings of sadness, acting as a friend and offering a sense of validation and shared experience during difficult times.
vii. Music helps deal with pain
Astonishingly, music can also help deal with pain. In a study conducted, patients were passively exposed to relaxing music of their preference as well as a control auditory condition. They then performed a timed motor task to test their mobility and observed their pain levels. The results showed that listening to music before the task reduced pain and enhanced mobility.
As we already know, soothing music activates relaxation centres in the brain, which lowers stress hormones called cortisols. The relaxed state can make pain feel more manageable.
The enjoyment we derive from music isn’t just a happy accident. Music psychology research shows that engaging with music in these ways, whether through listening, singing, or playing an instrument, can profoundly impact our overall well-being. It fosters emotional connection, reduces stress, and even boosts memory. So, why not explore the power of music in your own life? You might be surprised at the positive effects it can bring.
We, at Torrins, believe in helping people explore their musical side, offering ultimate support with our guitar, bass, and piano lessons. We even provide song lessons for all three instruments! With us, the possibilities for musical excellence are endless. So, dive into our pool of courses and experience the greatness of various genres like country, jazz, blues, and more! Check out our website for detailed information about our courses.
