Music is an integral part of different moments of human life. Every day, we listen to music, whether working or just setting aside time to enjoy music. Some people listen to music because of the lyrics; some want the beats, and some just like the vibe, which is why music is considered the soul of life. Like William Shakespeare said, “If music is the food of love, play on, give me excess of it; that surfeiting, the appetite may sicken, and so die.” The quote shows that humans value music. Music triggers different emotions in human beings due to neurobiological processes, but cultural factors also influence how music affects moods and behaviors.
Music has always encompassed creativity, time, and effort to express emotions and messages. Ball (2013) argues that music has the power to make humans feel good because it is linked to the euphoric reward responses similar to that in sex, good food, and addictive drugs. It means that music can excite the brain even though the process through which humans understand a series of sounds as music is complex. When the sound waves enter the ear, they cause vibrations, which are then transitioned to electric signals and send the brain messages that trigger different emotions in people (Ball,2013). For example, if one is listening to sad music and the messages remind them of something that resonates with a traumatizing situation, the music will create that mood.
In addition, music sets up regularities and patterns that help trigger the dopamine surge in the body, resulting in different emotions. It means that the ventral striatum and dorsal release dopamine as the brain’s reward system. Ball (2013) argues that music is linked with the reward system and different emotions because of its ability to predict the environment and what we can hear and see. When listening to music, the brain can predict what will happen next due to the power of the dramatic pauses and the melody flow. Consequently, anything unexpected, such as the dissonant chord, increases brain activity. This shows that music is more than a sensory experience for the brain because it connects to the brain continuously to predict upcoming events (Ball, 2013).
However, there is no clear evidence of how music triggers emotions, with opposers arguing that emotions triggered by music are culturally specific because of the different beliefs in every culture. Other cultures have other ideas and opinions, which impacts how the music passages are framed and structured, meaning that music’s emotional element varies. For example, Western Europe resonates with simple rhythms that trigger different solid emotions, but other cultures, such as India and Indonesia, resonate with music without the piano beats (Argstatter 675). Also, Westerners tend to listen to music without instruments, such as the piano, which is sad; that is the emotion they link other cultures’ music with.
Additionally, cultural traditions shape the music harmonies that convey different emotions, such as happiness. Depending on their cultural backgrounds, people are likely to react to the music messages differently. For example, in Western music, music with the major and minor codes is highly appreciated because the major scale is linked with joy and happiness. In contrast, the minor scale is often associated with sadness. However, in other cultures, such as Northwest Pakistan, the major and minor chords fail to trigger the same emotional reaction(Saarikallio et al ., 1000). The situation shows that associating music with emotions is not dependent on biological processes such as dopamine, which affect behavior and mood. Still, different cultures determine how people react to music.
Consequently, the emotional perception in music shows that human emotions can be communicated across cultures. For example, listeners familiar with a specific musical culture have a clear advantage over those unfamiliar, especially when evaluating the emotional connotations linked to the music. In some cultures, the harmonic background in melodies determines how people perceive music emotionally. For instance, Beethoven’s variation of the Happy Birthday melody is linked with happiness, and several songs’ acoustic roughness also varies across different cultures. When listers do not have any Western association between specific music genre and their connotations, their harmonization determines whether they link the music to more energy and dominance, which affects their emotions(Argstatter 670). As a result, cultural beliefs and background determine individuals’ emotional connection when listening to music.
In conclusion, music tends to trigger and control emotions because the limbic system is connected to emotional processing. Also, the controlling memory is triggered when our ears listen to music. This means that the release of dopamine leads to a reward system, which is why different emotions are triggered when listening to music. Nonetheless, opposers argue that biological processes determine music’s role in emotions, and cultural influences play a part in how people perceive music emotionally. Music is likely to trigger different emotions because different cultures have different beliefs and messages. Western music incorporates both the major and minor scales to embody the feelings of happiness and sadness. Therefore, it is essential to consider cultural factors to show how music emotions influence moods and behaviors.
Works Cited
Argstatter, Heike. “Perception of basic emotions in music: Culture-specific or multicultural?.” Psychology of Music 44.4 (2016): 674-690.
Ball, P. (2013, April 19). Will we ever… understand why music makes us feel good? BBC Breaking News, World News, US News, Sports, Business, Innovation, Climate, Culture, Travel, Video & Audio. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20130418-why-does-music-make-us-feel-good
Saarikallio, Suvi, et al. “Emotions of music listening in Finland and in India: Comparison of an individualistic and a collectivistic culture.” Psychology of Music 49.4 (2021): 989-1005.
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