In the tapestry of human experience, one thread weaves through the fabric of our emotions, resonating with the very essence of our being---music. From the rhythmic beats that echo the pulse of life to the harmonies that stir the depths of our souls, music has long been regarded as a universal language that transcends barriers and communicates directly with our emotions. But does music merely accompany our emotional states, or does it hold the power to elevate and shape our moods?
According to Nicolette et al. (2002), music has a variety of effects on people. Some of them are the effects on IQ, memory or learning, and especially on emotions. First and foremost, according to Vink (2015), emotions can be described as "specific process-oriented response behaviors". Process-oriented means that emotions are aimed at something, a specific situation or a person for example.
When people listen to music, their emotional responses will be called musical emotions. On the other hand, in terms of felt emotion (also known as induced emotions), the listeners experience a typical emotion on their own. By the same token, felt emotion is the way people respond to the music that they listen to (Halpern et al., 2013). It is clear that listeners experience different feelings towards different types of music. Some negative emotions such as shame, disgust, fear and anger were reported that they are usually experienced in daily life but not aroused by music.
Meanwhile, for positive emotions, listeners are affected more by the music itself, rather than everyday life. For instance, people who listen to jazz and classical music will get the emotions of amazement and peacefulness, whereas techno and Latin American music will bring the emotional states of activation. In addition, the two typical emotions, happiness and sadness are identified by many researchers.
In conclusion, music has the power to evoke and shape our emotions, different types of music can elicit various emotional responses, such as amazement, activation, happiness, sadness, and peacefulness. Music can have effects on IQ, memory, learning, and overall mood. Whether it accompanies our emotional states or influences them directly, music is undoubtedly a language of emotion. Its impact on our emotions, mood, tension, and mental clarity is profound.
