Essay on Music: Strengthening Social Bonds Since 35 Millennia

Introduction

Social bonds are human connections with other people. Music dates back to the historical days. Archeologists have excavated a flute sculpted from bone and ivory that was older than 35 millenniums. This indicates that music was present during the hunting and gathering period, and the society valued it. Music is delightful and entertaining to human beings. According to researchers, music plays a crucial part in strengthening social connections. One of the music psychologists, Stefan Koelsch, has outlined several ways that music affects the ability of people to bond with others by impacting brain circuits responsible for trust, cooperation, and empathy (Suttle, 2015). This justifies how music has existed in all cultures, globally. Nowadays, individuals listen to music by themselves and only come together during music concerts. Playing music and dancing to it with other people beats listening to it alone, as it brings about a communal hype making people connect. The following are forms in which analysts suppose music reinforces social bonds.

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Music increases interaction, organizations, and cooperation

Before recordings were discovered, people would only experience live music. Well, this was the case for the longest part of human history. Since music required interactions with other people, it offered a basis for physical and psychological security that might have assisted our forefathers in continuing living. Individuals have to coordinate their efforts to generate an entertaining sound. As per studies, when humans attempt to synch musically with other people in terms of maintaining the beat or matching, they tend to feel affectionate towards those with whom they are integrating (Suttle, 2015). Even though the phenomenon is unclear, what is certain is that the process of coordinating movements is associated with the release of endorphins. They are delightful chemicals that explain why people get positive social feelings when creating music together. Cooperation is necessary when preparing for a performance and during the performance when playing music in a band or singing in a choir. Cooperation builds trust between people and boosts the opportunities of people working together in the future. All these factors are significant in the evolutionary prosperity and the stability of society.

Music increases oxytocin levels

Scientists have discovered that music increases oxytocin levels in the body. Oxytocin is known to increase the connection and trust between individuals. In an experiment that was carried out on a strain of ‘singing’ mice, the mice that their oxytocin receptors were rendered unconscious by scientists took part in fewer vocalizations. They were socially deficient compare to the other mice. The experiment suggested a correlation between singing, oxytocin, and socialization (Suttle, 2015). In another research on people, there was a critical rise in their oxytocin levels irrespective of their level of skill and their previous emotional state. Perhaps, this explains why mothers sing lullabies to their babies: it promotes bonding by releasing oxytocin.

Additionally, listening to music produces oxytocin (Suttle, 2015). In medical research, the patients going through surgery were requested to listen to the researcher’s choice of soothing music for approximately half an hour after the medical procedure. After some time, they were tested. The results indicate that the patients that listened to the music had higher oxytocin levels compared to those who did not listen to any music. The experiment suggests that music has a direct impact on oxytocin levels. It, in turn, affects their ability to trust and be affectionate to other people – elements that increase their social bond.

Music reinforces humans “theory of mind” and empathy

Music activates many sections of the brain, including the circuit that assists people to comprehend other people’s thoughts and feelings and to foresee their behavior. This skill is the “theory of mind” and is connected to empathy. In an experiment, the participants were connected to an fMRI device and were made to listen to music that they were told was created by either a person or a computer. However, it was the same piece of music. The “theory of mind” brain circuit glowed for the participants that believed they were listening to music composed by a person, while it didn’t happen under the computer situation (Suttle, 2015). It proposes that the human brain doesn’t refine music when someone listens to music, but rather attempts to comprehend the intent of the musician and the message in the song.

In another research, a set of primary school kids were exposed to musical games alongside other kids for an hour a week for one academic year. A control group of kids of the same age was set aside and took part in drama and storytelling instead of music. The empathy levels of all the kids were measured as the year began, and as it ended (Suttle, 2015). The only set of kids that critically increased their empathy measures were the music group. This suggests that music has a significant role in empathy development.

Music boosts cultural union

Cohesion evident as children’s songs are passed down through generations, or crowds listen to the national anthem at a national game. Music communicates a sense of belonging, thereby increasing the feeling of security and accountability towards the group (Suttle, 2015). When people realize that they like similar types of songs, their perception of each other improves as though the choice of music holds a more profound meaning beyond entertainment. Studies show that individuals associate musical preferences with beliefs and values. The correlation between music and values affects how people assume they will like others, depending on their musical tastes.

Also, music impacts how people perceive others will progress. In recent research, participants either listened to silence or music or silence as they watched videotapes in which three people were observed to be walking in step or out of step with one another. When the observers were asked to rate their level of harmony and cohesion among the three people that were walking, the participants that listened to music discerned greater levels of harmony and cohesion compared to those that didn’t listen to music (Suttle, 2015). This suggests that music strengthens people’s perception of unity among people, probably by confusing their emotions to those that they are watching.

Studies show that social unity is greater within families and among mates when they listen to music together. The impact is true even in societies where interconnections are less appreciated, thus pinpointing that music has the capacity to serve as a “social glue” that binds people together (Suttle, 2015). However, the effects can be manipulated when used for malicious purposes. Example of how Hitler used music as a propaganda device to unite them emotionally for awful political intentions. This indicates the extent that human connections result in aggression towards certain individuals.

Conclusion

Music serves the same purposes as languages. It can be passed on from different generations and creates a sense of unity and loyalty. However, it does communicate words and ideas, but instead, it communicates emotions and intentions. Music increases interaction, organizations, and trust among people. Interactions in that people had to be together for there to be music, coordination as they attempt to synch musically with one another, and trust as they cooperate working together. Music increases oxytocin levels in the body, thus promoting bonding and increases people’s ability to trust others and to be affectionate. It is also significant in empathy development, and increment of cultural cohesion. Nowadays, music can create a sense of connection between individuals to all human beings. Conclusively, music brings all people together, both literally and figuratively.

References

Suttle, J. (2015). Four Ways Music Strengthens Social Bonds. Retrieved 17 July 2020, from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/four_ways_music_strengthens_social_bonds