Skip to main content

Listening to happy music really CAN make you happier, find researchers

Feeling sad or angry? A study from the University of Missouri has confirmed that listening to an upbeat song can lift your mood.

But this only works if you're consciously aware you're trying to make yourself happier by listening to the songs.

Researchers conclude that actively seeking out happiness through music, and other techniques, can then improve your health and relationship satisfaction.

Researchers from the University of Missouri have found that listening to upbeat music makes you happier, but only if you're actively trying to improve your mood. Seeking happiness improves your health, according to the study

TOP 10 HAPPIEST SONGS

1. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley (pictured)

2. I'd Rather Dance with You - Kings of Convenience

3. Heaven or Las Vegas - Cocteau Twins

4. Home - Phillip Phillips

5. Hawskmoor 269 - U2

6. Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band

7. Xanadu - Olivia Newton-John

8. Mean - Taylor Swift

9. Ho Hey -The Lumineers

10. Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes

Source: YouMatter: Suicide Prevention

If the upbeat music is on in the background, or you're not consciously aware that you're listening to it to boost your mood, the songs have no affect on how you feel.

Lead author Yuna Ferguson wanted to study how people can improve their moods by listening to upbeat music. 

She said: 'Our work provides support for what many people already do – listen to music to improve their moods.'

However, her study found that when people think to themselves that listening to upbeat music will make them happy before listening to the songs, the songs boost their mood.

But if people just listen to upbeat songs, without consciously aware that they are listening to them in a bid to get happier, the songs themselves have no affect.

  More... Is Google about to launch a streaming music service to head off Apple? Firm unveiling latest 'smart maps' and new gadgets at developer conference Cloning fears as scientists create human embryos from SKIN in stem cell 'milestone'

Over two studies by Ferguson, participants successfully improved their moods in the short term and boosted their overall happiness over a two-week period. 

During the first study, participants improved their mood after being instructed to do so, but only if they listened to the upbeat music of American composer Aaron Copland, as opposed to the more somber music from composer Igor Stravinsky.

Other participants, who listened to the music without being asked to attempt to change their mood, didn't report any change in happiness. 

In the second study, participants reported higher levels of happiness after two weeks of lab sessions in which they listened to positive music while trying to feel happier.

Control participants who only listened to music without being told to feel happier didn't notice a change in their mood.

However, Ferguson noted that for people to put her research into practice, they must be wary of too much introspection into their mood or constantly asking: 'Am I happy yet?'

'Rather than focusing on how much happiness they've gained and engaging in that kind of mental calculation, people could focus more on enjoying their experience of the journey towards happiness and not get hung up on the destination.' said Ferguson.

Participants in the happiness study were told to listen to upbeat music, such as scores composed by American composer Aaron Copland, pictured left, rather than somber music composed by Russian Igor Stravinsky, right

Ferguson's work corroborated earlier findings by Ferguson's doctoral advisor and co-author of the current study, Kennon Sheldon, professor of psychological science in the University of Missouri College of Arts and Science.

Sheldon said: ' Hedonic Adaptation Prevention model, developed in my earlier research, says that we can stay in the upper half of our 'set range' of potential happiness as long as we keep having positive experiences, and avoid wanting too much more than we have.'

'Yuna's research suggests that we can intentionally seek to make mental changes leading to new positive experiences of life. The fact that we're aware we're doing this, has no detrimental effect.'

Ferguson concluded: 'Although pursuing personal happiness may be thought of as a self-centered venture, research suggests that happiness relates to a higher probability of socially beneficial behavior, better physical health, higher income and greater relationship satisfaction.'

The study Trying to Be Happier Really Can Work: Two Experimental Studies was published in The Journal of Positive Psychology. 




Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o