By Sarah Chamberlin
Some people like the heavy backbeat and fast tempo. Others find they can relate to the angry lyrics. Still others just want to passively release their emotions.
Many reasons can be cited for people choosing to listen to violent music. Yet evidence of long-term effects of this music has been accumulating.
Listening to violent music will boost aggressive thoughts and feelings, according to a study released this month in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
'When we listen to it, we feel like it''s pretty unconscious,' said Niwako Yamawaki, a visiting professor of psychology at BYU. 'But we all know that unconsciousness definitely affects our behavior and even achievements, so I think it''s very, very important.'
The study resulted from experiments involving more than 500 college students and was conducted by researchers from Iowa State University and the Texas Department of Human Services. Researchers looked at the effects of both violent and nonviolent songs on students.
'When we define violence, I really believe it is about physical, emotional and verbal insults or violations,' Yamawaki said.
Participants in the experiments listened to songs by groups such as Tool, Cypress Hill, Johnny Cash and Suicidal Tendencies. Afterward, they were asked to perform psychological tasks in which they would answer questions, define words or describe their feelings.
Violent songs increased feelings of hostility without provocation or threat, according to the study. Even humorous violent songs increased aggressive thoughts.
'Repeated exposure to violent lyrics may contribute to the development of an aggressive personality,' said Iowa State University researcher Craig Anderson.
Yamawaki has seen this trend in her professional research, which focuses on violence against women
'More media and more people listening - it''s almost like gasoline to the fire,' Yamawaki said.
Although research has been conducted to measure the effects of violence on television or in video games, this study is one of the first to isolate violent music. Music differs from other media in three ways. It has no video component, it contains lyrics that aren''t always discernible and it does not require the same attention as other media.
'Music is most commonly related to emotions,' said Holly Hundley, a senior from Corona, Calif., majoring in psychology. 'It can trigger past emotions and help you reminisce. I know for me, when I listen to songs, it can spark up emotions I didn''t know I had.'
Hundley identified another negative consequence of violent music.
'I think people who are going to commit suicide listen to violent aggressive music that will lead them to actually complete the final act of suicide because the music does not uplift you,' Hundley said.
Since violent music seems to have only negative effects, researchers wonder why so many listen to it. Yamawaki said she thinks the two main reasons are peer pressure and anger expression.
'I don''t know if people are violent because of the music they listen to or if they''re a violent person, and so that''s why they listen to that music,' said Jerilyn Hartley, a senior from Huntington Beach, Calif., majoring in psychology. 'I''ve heard a lot that people say it gets it out of their system, and it should be allowed. I would say, on the whole, it could do more damage than it could do good.'
This month''s study contradicts a popular notion among researchers that listening to violent music serves as a positive outlet for anger.
'Aggressive music just leads to continued aggression,' Hundley said. 'It doesn''t make it dissipate. I think if a person is angry and they want to release something, they need to relax and have some calm music to soothe them. Go work out. Go jog.'
Although the music industry began labeling records for explicit sex and violence in 1985, they came under criticism again last October for not using more descriptive parental advisory labels. The Recording Industry Association or America said current labels give enough information without violating the right to free expression.
'My little brother used to be into rap, and there were a lot of violent themes my parents had no idea were in there.' Hundley said. 'Right now, I know they have ''parental guidance'' or ''explicit lyrics,'' but I think those are the more blatant ones. The ones that imply things, they''re not really labeled. I think there are a lot of those.'
Hartley goes so far as to say even descriptive labels are not enough.
'I wish there was some way they could just ban it altogether because it''s getting bad,' Hartley said. 'I don''t know how much worse it''s going to get.'