Tenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

One of the most important issues in the psychology of music is how music affects the emotional experience. Music has the ability to evoke powerful emotional responses (chills and thrills) in listeners. Positive emotions dominate in musical experiences. The common belief that “music does you good” is grounded in empirical studies. Pleasurable music may lead to the release of neurotransmitters associated with reward, such as dopamine. Listening to music is an easy way to alter mood or relief stress. People use music in their everyday lives to regulate, enhance, and diminish undesirable emotional states (e.g., stress, fatigue). The objective of this session is to summarize what is currently known about music and emotions. The discussion will describe the underlying mechanisms of emotional responses to music and its relations to physical health and subjective well-being.