Psychology has much to say about heavy metal. Some of its most fascinating, and perhaps predictable, findings seem to revolve around some key themes.
Researchers conducted one study which revealed that non-death metal fans experienced uniformly negative responses when listening to music with violent lyrics, while death metal fans experienced positive emotions such as power, transcendence and joy from listening.
1. It’s good for your immune system
Metal may have an aggressive sound that some find unpleasant; but its soothing sound can also be therapeutic and uplifting. Research shows that listening to music can actually boost immunity while decreasing cortisol levels (a stress hormone), possibly explaining why some people experience relief after attending heavy metal concerts – headbanging can stimulate your immune system by moving blood.
Death metal music can be an excellent way to alleviate stress with its fast beats and energetic melodies, as well as having a profound effect on one’s mood due to dopamine production in your brain releasing. When times get rough, crank up some Metallica for some energetic melodies!
But if the music only makes you more angry, maybe Jungle Rot or Pestilence might be better choices. Studies have demonstrated that listening to explicitly violent music causes your brain to dwell longer on violent images compared to nonviolent ones; the brain’s wiring makes it more sensitive than normal for recognizing violence.
Researchers are concerned that death metal can desensitize its fans to real-world violence and encourage negative social attitudes, yet researchers have been unable to explain why metalheads score lower on measures of conscientiousness and agreeableness than non-fans. Perhaps its offensive lyrical content serves as an deterrent against non-fans while creating an aura of exclusivity among death metal fans themselves and creating an sense of community among them.
No matter your taste in music, it is crucial to avoid stereotypes of death metal fans as these can contribute to negative social attitudes and policy decisions. Instead, let us highlight all of its positive attributes such as being empowering, aiding concentration and even providing protection for our immune systems.
2. It’s good for your mental health
Heavy metal music does not inherently pose any threat to mental health despite its often aggressive and violent lyrical themes, according to studies that use correlational data – which cannot establish causality – as evidence. Studies using correlational data have actually shown that exposure to this genre can reduce depression while improving mood overall and lowering cortisol levels in bloodstream. Metal can even help decrease stress and anxiety by decreasing cortisol levels in the bloodstream.
Metal music helps its fans feel like part of a community, so it should come as no surprise that those who listen are more likely to form close friendships and remain socially engaged – an aspect which helps prevent isolation and depression. Furthermore, attending metal concerts provides another means of creating bonds over shared musical interests while giving people something positive to look forward to during trying times in their lives.
Studies have also demonstrated the positive influence metal music can have on developing positive personality traits in young people, particularly scientific thinking and critical reasoning abilities. Listening to metal may help young people develop a more positive perspective towards women – which may prove particularly helpful for girls growing up with negative stereotypes about them in society.
Long-term exposure to heavy metal music with aggressive themes has raised some concerns that long-term exposure could increase aggression, anger and antisocial behaviour in both community and psychiatric populations. However, correlational evidence shows these risks do not appear consistent and depend heavily on each individual psychopathology.
An example is found when participants were made angry by reading an insulting statement while listening to metal music were shown to demonstrate lower hostility and irritability than those exposed to relaxing classical pieces. Furthermore, this study determined that extreme music matches and assists in processing anger more efficiently than soothing pieces do.
Researchers have also discovered that sharks can detect the heavy, solid sound of death metal music. While filming great white sharks for the TV show Bride Of Jaws, a crew played Meshuggah during snorkelling sessions with these sharks and discovered it piqued their interest and made them curious about the boat they were snorkelling around.
3. It’s good for your social life
Metalheads may be perceived as violent, aggressive and snobbish individuals; this stereotype is simply untrue. Research reveals the opposite to be true; those who appreciate extreme music tend to be significantly happier than non-fans, while it can even help build community among its listeners – for instance a study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that those listening to death metal experienced more positive emotions such as empowerment, joy, peace and transcendence than non-listeners despite feeling less isolated themselves and having more friends overall than non-fans did!
Thompson conducted an online survey wherein his death metal study participants reported feeling empowered by their music choices and finding relief from stress with it. A similar poll conducted by Loudwire of software developers revealed that nearly 90% of respondents said listening to classical, rock, or video game soundtrack music helps focus them when working on coding projects.
Documentary film crews filming for Shark Week in the Bahamas found that playing Cannibal Corpse through special underwater speakers drew great white sharks to their boat. They speculated that death metal’s steady beats and clattering resonant tones might attract great whites by vibrating detectors along their bodies that detect vibrations which aid them in pinpointing potential prey.
As well, death metal songs often feature explicit violence-themed lyrics that may elicit strong negative responses in non-fans; yet the opposite emotion often helps create its aesthetic appeal. This “psychological distancing and psychological embracing” could explain why songs like Death’s “Hammer Smashed Face” from Tampa Florida has received such widespread acclaim despite its shocking content.
Thompson has witnessed music therapists using death metal as part of a therapeutic approach for troubled youth. While some bands, like Ohio-based Sanguisugabogg may seem intimidating at first glance, their irreverent sense of humor adds an additional youthful layer to this otherwise serious genre of metal music.
4. It’s good for your physical health
Heavy metal music may be loud and energetic, yet its lyrics often explore dark aspects of human nature such as death. Though this element has led to stereotypes about metal being “satanic or evil”, studies have never demonstrated any link to aggression or violence caused by listening to this genre of music – indeed one study revealed that fans tend to be more conscientious and agreeable than non-fans!
Metal music may have a reputation for encouraging aggressive and violent behaviors, however this perception likely stems from correlational studies using small sample sizes of self-reporting fans. Such studies indicate that listening to certain genres of metal music has an association with externalizing behaviors (like anger and hostility ) as well as internalising behaviors ( like depression and anxiety ). It should be noted that most fans who enjoy these genres of music don’t engage in these types of actions regularly.
Metal music fans may appreciate it because it gives them a sense of community. Metalheads form strong connections with other fans through sharing favorite bands or discussing favorite artists on forums online; also attending metal festivals is an excellent way to meet like-minded music enthusiasts.
Metal music may help people stay focused when working or studying, according to research conducted among software developers. A study revealed that different musical genres (including classical) helped them concentrate and complete tasks more quickly; metal was the one genre which stood out as most effective among all these styles.
Heavy metal music provides an empowering, uplifting, and positive form of entertainment for fans who appreciate it. Not only can it provide great relief from stressors such as exams or work stress, it can also foster lasting friendships among fans who share your interests. From headbanging at concerts to wearing your band tee shirt at supermarket checkout or banging out Slipknot bumper stickers in your car – metal music gives us all a feeling of power, self-worth, and strength that’s truly awesome – while being an incredible source of adrenalin release!