Music, Anger and Sadness

 

Music Lyrics are a big part of today’s communication.  Children are exposed to them even before birth and more so as time goes on.

They play a big part in the social interaction of young children, pre-teens, teenagers, young adults and adults.  Even seniors are impacted by them and not just from some nostalgic sense.

For whatever reason American popular music for the last seventy years or so has come to express overwhelmingly just five emotions.  These emotions are, Joy, Dislike, Anger, Fear and Sadness.

After analyzing music lyrics between 1951 and 2016 it has become known that the vast majority of musical lyrics of American popular songs center on and express primarily these two emotions of the five listed : Anger is Number 1 and Sadness is Number 2.

Dislike and Fear are both tied for Number 3 and Number 4 and Joy comes in at Number 5.

Joy is the least represented emotion created and distributed across the United States and around the world as a result of the hegemony of the American and Japanese entertainment businesses.

Anger and Sadness are the major emotions and form the basis for the communication of fundamental ideas about human relations and behaviors to Americans and billions of other people around the world.

These songs are songs of loss, violence, trouble, confusion, chaos, madness, greed, infamy, death, ending, breaking up, destruction, loss of life, agony, despair and other negative ideation.

These negative and sorry pieces of complex information are broadcast 24 hours a day and 365 days a year over radio airwaves, the television and the internet as well as through live performances and other personal plays.

They are encountered in public spaces like airports, elevators, shopping malls, clothing stores, grocery stores, hardware stores, gas stations (inside), at the gas pump itself (outside), at play areas, at public events, overheard from others playing the songs over loudspeakers.  They are used at political events, commercial events, private affairs and play an integral part in parties and other social events and interactions.  They form the background of soundtracks for movies and all of a song or some part of it may be played to elicit an emotion from the viewer or indicate an emotion of a character or situation with the result being that emotion being communicated to the viewer or listener.

Individual exposures now and then.  On the whole, however, the exposure to music that is based on and elicits emotions of anger and sadness is nearly constant for most individual Americans and billions of others around the  world.

The cumulative effects are appalling.

A constant barrage of information, signals, and music heavy in anger and sadness can have a significant cumulative effect on mental health. Here's a breakdown of the potential impacts:

Information Overload:

• Normal: Feeling overwhelmed, difficulty focusing, decision fatigue.
• Problematic: Increased anxiety, difficulty sleeping, irritability.
• Mentally Ill: Worsening of existing symptoms like paranoia in schizophrenia or intrusive thoughts in OCD.

Negative Emotional Cues:

• Normal: Feeling down, drained, less motivated.
• Problematic: Increased negativity bias, rumination on negative thoughts, difficulty experiencing joy.
• Mentally Ill: Deeper depression, increased risk of suicidal ideation, triggering of past traumas.

Examples:

• Normal: Feeling stressed after scrolling through a constant stream of bad news.
• Problematic: Difficulty concentrating on work due to constant negativity on social media.
• Mentally Ill: Someone with depression feeling hopeless and suicidal after listening only to angry music.

Additional Factors:

• Personality: People with a tendency towards negativity are more susceptible to the negative effects.
• Coping Mechanisms: Healthy coping mechanisms like exercise and relaxation techniques can help buffer the impact.
• Content Type: Exposure to graphic violence or disturbing content carries a higher risk.

How to Mitigate the Impact:

• Information Diet: Be selective about news sources and social media feeds.
• Curate Music and Entertainment: Choose content that evokes positive emotions or is neutral.
• Digital Detox: Take breaks from technology and social media.
• Focus on Positivity: Practice gratitude, spend time with loved ones, engage in hobbies.
• Seek Help: If negativity significantly impacts your daily life, consider therapy or counseling.

 

Additional Information :

 

Impact of Anger and Sadness-Filled Media

Constant exposure to media heavy on anger and sadness can have a cascading effect on individuals and society as a whole. Here's a breakdown of its potential impact:

Individual Level:

• Normal: Feeling drained, increased cynicism, difficulty relaxing.
• Example: John, usually upbeat, finds himself feeling constantly on edge after weeks of listening to angry rap music and watching news filled with conflict.
• Problematic: Increased rumination on negative thoughts, difficulty sleeping, decreased motivation.
• Example: Sarah, struggling with low self-esteem, finds herself dwelling on negative messages in music and social media, leading to social isolation.
• Mentally Ill: Worsening of existing symptoms, triggering of past traumas.
• Example: David, with depression, feels hopeless and suicidal after listening to music with themes of helplessness.

Relationship Level:

• Increased conflict due to negativity bias, less patience and understanding.
• Example: Constant exposure to angry news creates tension between spouses, leading to arguments over seemingly trivial matters.
• Difficulty creating a positive and supportive environment for children.
• Example: A family constantly bombarded with sad music struggles to find joy in everyday activities.

Job Level:

• Decreased productivity due to low mood and difficulty focusing.
• Example: Employees in a newsroom with a constant stream of negativity find it challenging to meet deadlines.
• Increased absenteeism due to stress and emotional burn-out.
• Example: Constant exposure to angry customers on social media leads to high call center turnover.

Community Level:

• Decreased sense of trust and cohesion, increased negativity bias.
• Example: A community bombarded with stories of crime feels unsafe and distrustful of outsiders.
• Difficulty mobilizing positive social change due to a sense of helplessness.
• Example: Constant exposure to environmental problems without solutions leads to apathy and inaction.

National Level:

• Increased social polarization and political division.
• Example: A nation focused on anger-filled political rhetoric experiences increased social unrest.
• Decreased national well-being and a sense of hopelessness for the future.
• Example: Constant exposure to economic negativity leads to a decline in national morale and innovation.

The Music of Silence and Unresolvable Anger:

Media focused on anger and unresolved situations creates a sense of helplessness and despair. It can lead to:

• Desensitization: Constant exposure to negativity can numb individuals to real-world problems.
• Acceptance of Injustice: Feeling like problems can't be solved can lead to apathy and inaction.
• Increased Aggression: Anger-filled music can fuel feelings of rage and hostility.

It's important to remember:

• These are potential impacts, and individual experiences will vary.
• Seeking out positive media and practicing self-care are crucial for mitigating negativity.