Tested: Whether Extreme Music

Causes Anger or Calms You Down

33
inShare

Punk, heavy metal, death metal, emo and

screamo study tests if extreme music

really causes anger or calms the listener

down.
Extreme music like punk, heavy metal, death
metal, emo and screamo can actually have a
positive, calming effect on anger, a surprising new
study finds.
The findings may surprise those who are not
regular head-bangers.
Instead of becoming aggressive, listening to
chaotic music actually calmed and inspired most
regular listeners to the music.
Ms Leah Sharman, the studys first author, said:
We found the music regulated sadness and
enhanced positive emotions.
When experiencing anger, extreme music fans
liked to listen to music that could match their anger.
The music helped them explore the full gamut of
emotion they felt, but also left them feeling more
active and inspired.
Results showed levels of hostility, irritability and
stress decreased after music was introduced, and

the most significant change reported was the level

of inspiration they felt.
People in the study were regular listeners to
extreme music aged between 18 and 34.
For the research, they were asked to describe
events that made them angry.
This was designed to put them in an angry mood.
Then some listened to extreme music of their
choice while others sat in silence for 10 minutes.
Ms Sharman said:
A secondary aim for the study was to see what
music angry participants would select from their
playlist.
It was interesting that half of the chosen songs
contained themes of anger or aggression, with the
remainder containing themes like though not
limited to isolation and sadness.
Yet participants reported they used music to
enhance their happiness, immerse themselves in
feelings of love and enhance their well-being.

All of the responses indicated that extreme music

listeners appear to use their choice of music for
positive self-regulatory purposes.
Here are a few examples of the song titles, if you
need to calm down a little:
Dawn of Battle by Manowar
The Epic Rage of Furious Thunder by
Gloryhammer
Dark Days by Parkway Drive
11 Ways To Hate by Five Finger Death Punch
So, if Five Finger Death Punch do it for you, then
go for it.

You have the blessing of these psychologists.

The study is published in the journal Frontiers in
Human Neuroscience(Sharman & Dingle, 2015).
Suicide Silence image from Shutterstock (Stock Photo: HELSINKI, FINLAND: American extreme
metal band Suicide Silence performs live on stage July 1, 2012 at 15th annual Tuska Open Air
Metal Festival in Suvilahti, in Helsinki, Finland)