Even though metal music may have the appearance of being aggressive, research demonstrates it may actually help people manage their emotions more effectively. One study demonstrated how listening to metal reduced cortisol levels which in turn reduced stress and anxiety levels.
Nicole Andreoli, a New York-based clinical psychologist and therapist, recently shared a TikTok video explaining that heavy metal music provides a way to process anger. Her video was inspired by research regarding metal music’s positive impacts on listeners.
Music as a form of therapy
Anecdotal evidence supports that fans of metal music experience an enhanced sense of community and belonging, lower rates of mental health issues, and greater levels of happiness than non-fans.
Listening to music offers not only emotional benefits, but can also help you relax and focus. Music can stimulate imagination and spark creativity while also creating an experience unlike anything words could provide.
Researchers have expressed concerns that heavy metal music’s lyrical themes may contribute to aggression, antisocial behavior, drug use and suicidal ideation in community and psychiatric populations. Unfortunately, the results of experimental research on this subject vary and often rely on correlational evidence rather than causal relationships; yet some metal music’s lyrics depict acts of violence, hostility and misogyny, leading to increased anger levels as well as aggressive cognitions and antisocial behaviors – although not automatically leading to aggression.
Music’s positive emotional effects and sense of community it offers has led many metal fans to use music therapy as a form of therapy. Their strong social support network includes online communities and in-person meetups of metal fans; all these factors come together to provide an ideal remedy against depression, addiction and anxiety issues, all which often feature in heavy metal lyrics in an emotionally raw and honest manner.
A musical therapist will use various elements of musical therapy to meet the unique needs of their clientele. One technique known as ‘directed listening’ entails playing music or recordings and discussing its effect. Other approaches may involve singing together or playing instruments as improvisation techniques.
Musical therapy can help to relieve both stress and depression by decreasing cortisol levels. Furthermore, musical therapy promotes positive emotions such as empathy and critical thinking. New York psychologist Nicole Andreoli states in a TikTok video that music can be an excellent way to process anger or other unpleasant emotions; additionally she suggests listening to soothing music and taking time out for being more in touch with yourself and your feelings.
Music as a way of processing emotions
Music can be an effective tool for emotional processing. It can help people regulate their emotions, manage stress and anger more effectively and find strength and confidence through self-expression. Music therapy has been shown to significantly enhance quality of life for many individuals including those suffering from mental illnesses; additionally, music may serve as an outlet for dealing with traumatic events like the loss of loved ones.
Research on this subject relies heavily on correlational evidence; therefore, causation cannot be inferred from it. When assessing the effect of music on mental health and problem behaviors, other factors must also be taken into consideration; particularly how mental health problems might act as moderating factors.
Music’s effect on mental health has long been discussed. Metal music, with its association to aggression and antisocial themes, has caused great debate, as its content can potentially lead to aggression, self-harm or other undesirable behavior. These concerns have caused some mental health and correctional facilities to restrict metal music access.
Though metal music may cause anxiety, several studies have demonstrated its advantages. One such research paper showed listeners who had become angry quickly calming down faster when listening to metal than classical music. Furthermore, metal was shown to reduce cortisol levels – an indicator of stress.
Metal music can help promote critical thinking and release negative emotions like anger. Therefore, supporting their mental health and challenging preconceptions about them are of equal importance. Heavy Metal Therapy’s community psychology project strives to do just this through increasing awareness about this subject while offering support and aiding user-led research efforts in this arena.
This community psychology project for people in alternative subcultures is founded on principles of empowerment, peer support and resource sharing. It challenges the assumption that all metal fans have detrimental impacts on mental health while encouraging people to share stories and resources – inspired by approaches like Hearing Voices movement.
Music as a way of connecting with others
Many people find music an easy way to express emotions, particularly hard tunes. These genres typically feature aggressive lyrics that explore feelings such as anger and depression. Some may find the music uncomfortable while others find it soothing and comforting. According to studies, listening to music may reduce negative emotions like anxiety and depression as well as increase sense of belonging and self-worth in an individual. Furthermore, fans of similar genres such as metalheads have formed supportive communities for one another by offering an accepting space where all who enjoy distorted guitars and loud drums can meet.
Concerns have been expressed that musical genres with aggressive themes can have detrimental effects on the behavior and mental health of adolescents and young adults, with fears based on correlational data which does not permit causal inferences. Yet most research demonstrates that using music-based emotion regulation strategies as adaptive and enhancing strategies for heavy metal listeners. Specifically, several studies have revealed how listening to metal music can decrease anxiety levels while increasing positive moods; particularly among individuals who possess higher levels of neuroticism.
Metal music may have an image problem, but many find its emotional expression vital to their lives. Devoted fans may share that its therapy helped them through depression or anxiety; fans will likely describe their music tastes without judgment to others and share playlists or discuss song lyrics with friends.
The metal scene is an energetic and dynamic community with its own customs and traditions, including loud styles of music with aggressive language which may be off-putting for some while creating an accepting space for those who appreciate this genre. While anecdotal evidence exists showing its benefits for listeners’ wellbeing and mental health, more research must be conducted in this area to fully comprehend how music-based emotion regulation strategies impact individual factors like gender or personality to achieve positive outcomes for these strategies.
Music as a way of expressing anger
Metal music has long been linked with mental health difficulties; however, fans claim it can also help facilitate emotional processing and anger management. Anecdotal evidence also supports this argument by showing how metal communities provide positive and supportive environments for those who find the genre beneficial.
Heavy metal musical genres tend to explore themes of aggression, violence and misogyny that have generated moral outrage from parents, politicians and media members alike. Many fear that young metal music listeners may turn out to be violent and antisocial individuals themselves; it is essential that parents recognize the distinction between anger and aggression; both can occur simultaneously within people; violent music may trigger feelings of anger while aggression involves more severe and harmful actions that must not be underestimated by listeners or parents alike. It’s essential that violent music only induces anger while not aggression – something other forms cannot do.
Researchers have suggested that listening to aggressive metal music may desensitize individuals to aggression, leading them to exhibit more aggressive thoughts. While this seems counterintuitive, as aggression is usually in response to certain stimuli. Meanwhile, other researchers have discovered that listening to angry metal can actually help calm people after experiencing traumatic events as its intense sounds help people focus and concentrate more effectively.
Studies have also demonstrated how listening to metal music can help individuals separate their emotions from ego, and regulate negative ones like anger more effectively. Furthermore, listening to angry metal can reduce cortisol levels in bloodstream which contributes to stress, anxiety and depression.
One study involved participants rating their current stress levels or “upsetness level” on a scale from 1-10 and offering them either listening to either metal music or sitting silently for 10 minutes; results demonstrated that both approaches reduced participants’ stress levels significantly.
Anger management and music therapy can be powerful ways of teaching clients how to control their anger. One goal of such treatments is teaching clients to evaluate their stress level so they can recognize when frustration has reached an unhealthy point, then use preventative de-stressing techniques like exercise or recreational pursuits as means for relieving their tension.