"Music," wrote Ludwig van Beethoven, "is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." Granted, as a composer, Beethoven wasn't exactly an objective observer. But for most of us, music is still the art form we turn to most frequently, and the one that gives us the greatest satisfaction.
The source of music's power has long been debated, with many psychologists concluding its primary benefit is emotional regulation (that is, stress reduction or relaxation). For many of us, that has always seemed awfully reductive—Beethoven would no doubt respond with some dissonant, dissenting chords—and recently published research suggests we may be right.
An exploratory study finds emotion regulation may be "a secondary outcome of music listening," write psychologists Jenny Groarke and Michael Hogan of the National University of Ireland in Galway. Rather, the "fundamental drivers" of our thirst for music appear to be the intense emotions a given melody produces, the way it facilitates reminiscing, and—as we age—its ability to produce transcendent experiences.
[For more of this story, written by Tom Jacobs, go to http://www.psmag.com/books-and...nt-source-of-meaning]
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