| re are now initial scientific proofs that indeed, music | | | | and violent interpretations as compared to songs |
| and lyrics affect people’s feelings. A recently | | | | with non violent and non aggressive lyrics. Violent |
| conducted research commissioned by the Texas | | | | song lyrics were found to bolster feelings of hostility |
| Department of Human Services and the Iowa State | | | | among participants even without presence or |
| University has concluded that songs with overt | | | | mentioning of direct threat or provocation. This |
| violent lyrics tend to increase aggression linked to | | | | effect was obviously not brought about by variations |
| emotions and thoughts of individuals. The study was | | | | in music styles. It was noted that even humorous |
| first published in the Journal of Personality and Social | | | | songs with violent lyrics were able to boost |
| Psychology’s May 2009 issue. It was | | | | aggressive thoughts among respondents. |
| contradictory to common notions that listening to | | | | An observant noted that violent lyrics in songs |
| violent music with angry and harsh lyrics could | | | | increase aggressiveness in feelings and thoughts. This, |
| facilitate ventilation of emotions and positive | | | | according to some experts, could have direct |
| catharsis. | | | | implications for actual violence in the real world. Some |
| The research consisted of five actual experiments | | | | even noted that aggressive thoughts prompted by |
| with at least 500 college students as respondents. | | | | violent song lyrics could effectively influence |
| Lyrics of songs were categorized into violent and non | | | | perceptions especially of social interactions. |
| violent. Seven songs with angry lyrics and seven | | | | This study was able to probe possible precursors to |
| songs with non angry lyrics from the same artists | | | | aggression, a deviation from common notions that |
| were picked for the tests. Student respondents | | | | aggression is brought about by aggressive behavior |
| were provided by different psychological tests for | | | | itself. Song lyrics have that instant and immediate |
| measurement of aggressive feelings and thoughts | | | | effect in thoughts and feelings of people. Authors |
| after hearing selected music with categorized song | | | | recommend further studies into the subject, because |
| lyrics. There also was a task that had participants | | | | there is still a need to identify and quantify long term |
| categorizing or classifying specific lyrics perceived to | | | | and short term effects of aggressive and violent |
| have aggressive and non aggressive definitions. | | | | song lyrics. |
| Control of variables was facilitated through selecting | | | | Lastly, researchers concluded that indeed violent song |
| songs with aggressive and non aggressive lyrics that | | | | lyrics could contribute well to the emergence of |
| were sung by the same artists. Participants were | | | | aggressive personalities among people, leading to |
| even asked to interpret arousal properties of music. | | | | indirect creation of more hostile social surroundings. In |
| To make the research more interesting, several | | | | other words, when it comes to songs and music, |
| songs with obviously humorous lyrics were included in | | | | content and lyrics do really matter, especially when |
| the list to demonstrate how humor is able to interact | | | | composers and songwriters aim to arouse specific |
| with aggressive song lyrics in provoking aggressive | | | | moods and behaviors among listeners of music. Thus, |
| thoughts among listeners. | | | | parents should always monitor the kind of music |
| Results unanimously showed that violent songs with | | | | heard by their children. |
| violent lyrics are leading to much more aggressive | | | | |