Music has a unique ability to influence our emotions and behaviors. Whether it’s a favorite song that makes you dance or a soothing melody that helps you through tough times, music is a powerful tool. It can also assist us during more routine tasks, like getting through a workday. Personally, I find that listening to music, such as Girl Talk or the National Treasure soundtrack, enhances my writing process.
A study published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior explored how music affects cooperation among individuals. Researchers divided 78 college students into two groups: one listened to “happy” music, while the other was exposed to “unhappy” music. The “happy” playlist included songs like “Yellow Submarine” by the Beatles and “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves. In contrast, the “unhappy” playlist featured songs from lesser-known heavy metal bands.
Participants were tasked with deciding how much money to contribute to a group pool versus keeping for themselves. Contributions to the pool were incentivized by multiplying the pooled amount by one and a half before distribution. The study found that contributions were about one-third higher when participants listened to happy music compared to unhappy music.
Music’s benefits extend beyond group cooperation. A music therapy expert from the University of Miami conducted a study with 56 computer developers who maintained a detailed music log. They recorded their feelings before and after listening to music, the duration of listening, and their music choices. The study revealed that developers generated better ideas and worked more efficiently with music. In contrast, their work quality declined without music.
While music can boost productivity and cooperation, it can also be distracting, depending on the task. A study at Florida Atlantic University examined 45 students writing essays with and without music. The results indicated that students wrote more slowly when listening to music, suggesting that music might hinder tasks requiring significant cognitive effort.
When considering music in the workplace, it’s essential to account for various factors, including the type of music and the nature of the task. Happy versus unhappy music can have different effects, and the task at hand should guide your choice. For tasks like sorting through emails, music can be beneficial. However, for tasks requiring intense focus, such as meeting a tight deadline, silence might be more effective.
Understanding music’s impact is not only useful for productivity but also a lucrative area of study. For instance, casinos use music strategically to keep patrons engaged and content. This concept is explored in the show Casino Secrets on DiscoveryGO, which is available for free on mobile devices.
Ultimately, whether “Yellow Submarine” qualifies as “good” music is subjective. The question remains: is there a formula for good music? Host Jules delves into this topic in an insightful video. What music do you prefer when you need to focus? Personally, I find the National Treasure soundtrack to be an excellent choice for stimulating my mind.
Design an experiment where you and your classmates create playlists of “happy” and “unhappy” music. Listen to these playlists while performing a group task, such as a collaborative project or a game. Record your observations on cooperation levels and discuss the outcomes with your peers.
Keep a journal for one week, documenting your productivity levels while listening to different types of music during various tasks. Note any changes in efficiency or creativity. Share your findings in a class discussion to explore how music affects individual productivity.
Participate in a debate on the pros and cons of listening to music in the workplace. Prepare arguments based on the article’s findings and your personal experiences. This will help you critically analyze the impact of music on work environments.
Write two short essays on a given topic: one while listening to music and one in silence. Compare the quality and speed of your writing. Reflect on how music influences your cognitive processes and share your insights with the class.
Research how different industries use music to influence behavior, such as in retail or hospitality. Prepare a presentation to share your findings, highlighting the strategic use of music beyond productivity and cooperation.
Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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You know, stock music always makes me feel productive. Hi there, harmonically inclined friends! Trace here for DNews. We all know music has the power to alter behaviors, like when a favorite artist makes you dance or helps you work through a difficult time. But music also helps us get through more mundane moments, like the workday. When I’m writing, I like to put on my headphones and enjoy some tunes… like Girl Talk or the National Treasure soundtrack. No judgment.
And that may not be such a bad thing. A recent study in the Journal of Organizational Behavior took a close look at how music affects cooperation. Researchers put 78 college students into two groups: one exposed to happy music and the other to unhappy music. Now, before we go any further, we know “happy” is a pretty broad term, but according to these researchers, they decided to add songs like “Yellow Submarine” by the Beatles and “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves to this happy music playlist. For unhappy music, they played songs from less familiar heavy metal bands.
Alright, back to the study. Individuals had to decide how much money they wanted to put into a group pool and how much they wanted to keep for themselves. To incentivize cooperation, money put into the pool would be multiplied one and a half times before being split evenly. The results showed that contributions to the pool were about one-third higher with happy music than with unhappy music.
Listening to music you like is not just good for group work. A music therapy expert at the University of Miami conducted a study with 56 computer developers who were asked to keep a detailed music log. In the log, participants recorded how they felt before and after listening to music, how long they listened, and their music selections. The log was then compared to their overall quality of work. The results showed that developers came up with better ideas and worked better and faster with music on. Without music, they had poorer work quality overall.
So, music may make you more cooperative and increase your productivity, but there is also evidence that it can sometimes have a negative effect, depending on the task at hand. One study at Florida Atlantic University observed 45 students to see how fast they wrote essays with or without music. The results showed that those who listened to music while writing wrote slower on average, concluding that music may actually be distracting when doing something as cognitive as essay writing.
When it comes to music in the workplace, remember that there are as many variables as there are different musical genres. Not only should you consider happy versus unhappy music—whatever that may be for you—but also consider what it is you actually do at work. If you’re going through a lot of emails, go ahead and turn on those beats! But if you’re trying to meet a tight deadline on a report, silence just may be your best bet.
Understanding how music can affect you is not just good for getting work done; it’s a profitable area of study. Casinos also use music and different musical cues to keep you engaged and happy. I learned that in Casino Secrets on DiscoveryGO. DiscoveryGO lets you watch your favorite Discovery shows on your phone or tablet. Download it for free at your app store!
So just because “Yellow Submarine” was classified as “happy” music by some researchers doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good music… or does it? Is there a formula behind good music? Host Jules talks more about it in this video. What do you listen to when you want to get things done? Seriously, I stand by this National Treasure soundtrack. It’s amazing for my brain!
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This version removes any informal language and maintains a professional tone while preserving the original content’s meaning.
Music – The art or science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion. – Music therapy has been shown to help students manage stress and improve their emotional well-being.
Productivity – The effectiveness of productive effort, especially in terms of the rate of output per unit of input, often influenced by psychological factors. – Listening to classical music can enhance productivity by improving concentration and reducing stress levels.
Cooperation – The process of working together to the same end, often requiring effective communication and understanding of group dynamics. – In a band, cooperation among musicians is essential to create harmonious music.
Emotions – Complex psychological states that involve three distinct components: a subjective experience, a physiological response, and a behavioral or expressive response. – Music can evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy to sadness, influencing listeners’ psychological states.
Behaviors – The way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially towards others, often influenced by psychological and environmental factors. – The study explored how different genres of music affect students’ study behaviors and focus.
Students – Individuals who are engaged in learning, often in a formal educational setting, and who may use music as a tool for relaxation or concentration. – Many students find that listening to instrumental music helps them concentrate better while studying.
Happy – Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment, often influenced by external stimuli such as music. – Upbeat music can make students feel happy and more motivated to complete their assignments.
Unhappy – Not satisfied or pleased, often as a result of unmet expectations or negative experiences, which can be influenced by music. – Listening to melancholic music can sometimes make students feel unhappy, reflecting on personal experiences.
Therapy – Treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder, which can include music therapy as a method to address psychological issues. – Music therapy is used to help individuals express emotions and improve mental health.
Focus – The center of interest or activity, often requiring concentration and attention, which can be enhanced by certain types of music. – Ambient music is often used to help students maintain focus during long study sessions.
