Heavy Metal Music On Aggression
THE EFFECTS OF HEAVY METAL MUSIC ON AGGRESSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTSSHALEEN L. COSSDEPARTMENT OF PSYCHLOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANSSponsored by: MUKUL BHALLA (bhalla@loyno.edu)
ABSTRACT
Abstract
The purpose of the present research was to examine the effect of heavy metal music on levels of aggression in college students. A 30-item questionnaire was created by the researchers. The questionnaire measured aggression by means of a self-reported scale of levels of aggression in response to potentially aggressive situations. Two groups of college students, 28 females and 4 males aged 17-20 were given the questionnaire. One group answered while listening to heavy metal music, the other group did not listen to any music. Findings indicated that …show more content…
The results of the experiment were just the opposite from what was expected. The levels of aggression in the no music/control condition were higher than in the music condition, though not statistically significant. According to Radcoy and Boyle (1997), the song used in the experiment, Tool`s \"Jerk-Off\", should have elicited some sort of emotion, and maybe it did, but the test was inadequate in measuring the emotion. Greenburg and Fisher (1971), found that participants exposed to exciting music scored higher on power and hostility themes on the TAT, indicating that the participants in this experiment should have reacted with more hostility to the heavy metal music than they did. The results of the experiment are consistent with Wanamaker and Reznikoff`s (1989) study on the effect of aggressive rock music on levels of aggression. They found that the music caused no effects on TAT scores or on scores in a separate aggression questionnaire. According to Hanson and Hanson (1990), people have a hard time processing the lyrics of heavy metal songs because the music itself is too distracting. This finding was confirmed in this experiment. A sample of the lyrics used is \"I should just get a gun and shoot you myself\". The researchers felt that if the lyrics would have been examined alone, or if the participants would …show more content…
(1995). The immediate effects of homicidal, suicidal, and nonviolent heavy metal and rap songs on the moods of college students. Youth and Society, 27, 148-168.
Fried, R., & Berkowitz, L. (1979). Music both charms…and can influence helpfulness. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 913, 199-208.
Greenberg, R. P., Fisher, S. (1971). Some different effects of music on projective and structured psychological tests. Psychological Reports, 28, 817-818.
Hansen, C. H., & Hansen R.D. (1990). Schematic information processing of heavy metal lyrics. Communication Research, 374-408.
Radcoy, R., & Boyle, J. (1997). Psychological Foundations of Musical Behavior (3rd ed.). Springfield: Charles C. Thomas.
Wanamaker, L., & Reznikoff, M. (1989). Effects of aggressive and nonaggressive rock songs on projective and structured tests. The Journal of Psychology, 123,
ABSTRACT
Abstract
The purpose of the present research was to examine the effect of heavy metal music on levels of aggression in college students. A 30-item questionnaire was created by the researchers. The questionnaire measured aggression by means of a self-reported scale of levels of aggression in response to potentially aggressive situations. Two groups of college students, 28 females and 4 males aged 17-20 were given the questionnaire. One group answered while listening to heavy metal music, the other group did not listen to any music. Findings indicated that …show more content…
The results of the experiment were just the opposite from what was expected. The levels of aggression in the no music/control condition were higher than in the music condition, though not statistically significant. According to Radcoy and Boyle (1997), the song used in the experiment, Tool`s \"Jerk-Off\", should have elicited some sort of emotion, and maybe it did, but the test was inadequate in measuring the emotion. Greenburg and Fisher (1971), found that participants exposed to exciting music scored higher on power and hostility themes on the TAT, indicating that the participants in this experiment should have reacted with more hostility to the heavy metal music than they did. The results of the experiment are consistent with Wanamaker and Reznikoff`s (1989) study on the effect of aggressive rock music on levels of aggression. They found that the music caused no effects on TAT scores or on scores in a separate aggression questionnaire. According to Hanson and Hanson (1990), people have a hard time processing the lyrics of heavy metal songs because the music itself is too distracting. This finding was confirmed in this experiment. A sample of the lyrics used is \"I should just get a gun and shoot you myself\". The researchers felt that if the lyrics would have been examined alone, or if the participants would …show more content…
(1995). The immediate effects of homicidal, suicidal, and nonviolent heavy metal and rap songs on the moods of college students. Youth and Society, 27, 148-168.
Fried, R., & Berkowitz, L. (1979). Music both charms…and can influence helpfulness. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 913, 199-208.
Greenberg, R. P., Fisher, S. (1971). Some different effects of music on projective and structured psychological tests. Psychological Reports, 28, 817-818.
Hansen, C. H., & Hansen R.D. (1990). Schematic information processing of heavy metal lyrics. Communication Research, 374-408.
Radcoy, R., & Boyle, J. (1997). Psychological Foundations of Musical Behavior (3rd ed.). Springfield: Charles C. Thomas.
Wanamaker, L., & Reznikoff, M. (1989). Effects of aggressive and nonaggressive rock songs on projective and structured tests. The Journal of Psychology, 123,