Heavy Metal: New York-based psychologist shares insights on the stress-reducing and cognitive benefits of the genre
Dr. Nicole Andreoli, Ph.D. upoloaded an informative TikTok video (@drnicole_ny) which has gained immense popularity as it explains how listening to heavy metal can alleviate stress, enhance critical thinking, and provide an outlet for processing anger. Dr. Andreoli’s video went viral after she posted it as a response to another user’s clip.
The initial video, posted by KatieLeigh37 (@ktpineapple__), focuses on the peaceful state she experiences while listening to metal music, contrasting it with everyday activities like being in a public store.
Unveiling the Health Advantages of Heavy Metal
Dr. Andreoli agrees with KatieLeigh37‘s observations and further elaborates on the therapeutic aspects of music in her clip. She emphasizes that any type of music can be therapeutic and facilitate emotional release, including heavy metal.
According to Dr. Andreoli, heavy metal music has been scientifically proven to reduce negative emotions by lowering cortisol levels, thereby alleviating stress. Furthermore, research indicates that heavy metal listeners exhibit enhanced logical thinking abilities and engage in more complex cognitive processes compared to non-listeners.
The genre also aids in improving focus and concentration.
What about those brutal lyrics??
Addressing the concern about heavy metal lyrics often revolving around rage, Dr. Andreoli clarifies that no research has established a link between listening to heavy metal and desensitization to violence. On the contrary, she highlights that heavy metal serves as a positive and safe avenue for processing anger.
You can check out the viral TikTok videos mentioned below.
Recent Study
In a recent study, people who listen to heavy metal , or “metalheads“, and other genre listeners were studied in a new report claiming there is a connection between our personalities and the type of music we listen to.
The research was carried out by Very Well Mind, who tested over 36,000 participants worldwide. The group was asked to rate over 104 different musical styles and to also fill out a questionnaire relating to the ‘Big 5’ personality traits, being extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness and neuroticism.
The results of the massive study seemed to show a very strong link between an individual’s psyche and their musical preferences.
Results
The information collected on fans of heavy metal and rock music states that “rock and heavy metal often project images of anger, bravado, and aggression”, yet makes note that the aggressive style of the music doesn’t mean those that listen are the same way. Quite the opposite was actually discovered, as rock and heavy metal listeners were found to be “gentle”, “creative” and “introverted” with “low self-esteem”.
As a comparison, pop music listeners were found to exude “high-self-esteem” and have “extraverted” personalities along with being “honest”, “conventional” and having “hard-working” traits.
“People can make accurate judgments about an individual’s levels of extraversion, creativity, and open-mindedness after listening to 10 of their favourite songs” states the results of the study.
The study adds: “The next time you’re putting together a playlist for your commute or workout, consider how your personality might be reflected in your song choices.
“Try listening to styles of music that you don’t normally prefer; research suggests that this can have a lasting positive impact on the brain”.
The results are all fine and dandy but we think we’ll just stick with our preferred genre of eardrum-splitting metal in all it’s glorious forms.
You can check out the full study for yourself at this location.
@drnicole_ny #stitch with @KatieLeigh37 whats your favorite music genre?#music #musictherapy #psychology #mentalhealthtokhelps #psych #nyctherapist #mentalhealth #mentalhealthtips ♬ original sound – drnicole_ny
