emotions and music belong together: think of shrill violin sounds, the creepy horror movie scenes to usher. Or the sugary tones of a romantic movie.
But songs affect our emotions? Or do we seek out music that matches our mood? A study by the American Cornell University notes.
The researchers studied millions of Online Streams of the music platform Spotify in the world, in order to make hourly, daily, and seasonal patterns. As they report in the journal “Nature and Human Behaviour”, is heard over cultural and national borders in the evening rather relaxing music, while during the day the energy geladenere pieces are preferred.
But there were also clear regional differences. So people in Asia are more of the relaxing music, the listener selected in Latin America, however, the majority of stimulating pieces. Overall, the Team evaluated the social scientists Minsu Park of the Cornell University 765 million pieces of music have been streamed nearly a Million people from 51 countries on the platform of “Spotify”.
the longer the relationship between music and mood is the focus of different disciplines. Thus, neuro-scientists, what happens in the brain when we listen to music are interested in, while psychologists study the effects of certain musical Genres on our emotions. This study, revealed that mood regulation is actually an important Motivator for us to listen to music – the kind that fits the particular mood.
Other studies have suggested that certain Songs have a stimulating effect on self-confidence. And further studies showed that especially the music of our youth is formative for us, and we remember particularly well. In spite of these approaches, however, it remains unclear how the interaction between music and the mind works exactly, and whether the found correlations are global.
The researchers Minsu Park made use of the huge amount of data, the platform “Spotify” – to analyze, instead of about music preferences on the basis of Social Media content. “Listening to music is different from what people write, as it not only gives insights on what might feel people, but also, what do you want to feel, maybe,” note the authors.
Gunter Kreutz, praises the approach of the researchers: “The study is quite unique, because very efficient methods are needed to deal with the huge amounts of data, deal”, says the musicologist, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, who was not involved in the analysis. A marginal aspect: That plausible results would speak also to ensure that the collections of data by corporations and secret services about the human behavior in many countries allow for a pretty good picture.
in General, especially younger people closer to music – a finding that is not surprising, Gunter Kreutz hear according to the analysis. New is the possibility of “continental sensibilities” for him is rather: “It corresponds to the stereotype that the far Eastern philosophy from the rest of your force. Very different in South America, where, apparently, the lifestyle of the people demands more to exciting rhythms.”
the different preferences will align with the time, don’t believe the music scientists. “People are sticking to their tastes.” Rather, over the years, probably cohort effects can be seen: “In a few decades will have preferences between the age groups to be moved.”
all in All, however, cannot answer the current study, whether music affects our emotions, or we choose music that fits our mood – probably a change of game was of the two approaches, according to the authors. Another weakness of the analysis is therefore that only the human data were evaluated, the Spotify – criticism, which applies also Gunter Kreutz: “to Date, the user must have over a Minimum of prosperity, to be able to Spotify.”
The musicologist also warns not to generalize the results: “music is an indicator of the human need for Regulation of their moods is to listen to. It is difficult to conclude what is going on in the environment before, and how people feel.” So whether it is one-sided, to interpret the energetic music in South America as a joy of life. “Because the living conditions in large Parts of the population actually give little occasion to dance Salsa.” The crucial test for the presented method will be to let socio-economic data in the analysis.
dpa
