By Grace Moinet
Does music really change a person? If so, what kind of changes? Well, according to the American Physical Therapy Association, “Using music for introspection is one way to improve emotional intelligence.” But how?
For most people, you start listening to music at a very young age, including lullabies or just songs you hear your parents listen to. But, it’s not just a peaceful melody to help babies sleep, actually, kids just learning an instrument or singing can improve emotional sensitivity. That includes many other things like motor skills, self esteem, confidence, and plenty of other factors that can increase their emotional intelligence in the future.
Do you ever get the chills when listening to a song? If you do, then you likely have a “Denser fiber that connects your auditory cortex to the areas of your brain that process emotion,” said an article by sciencetimes.com. This means that people who get chills are actually able to communicate better. Also meaning that you experience more intense emotion then other people may experience.
Personality wise, music can communicate emotion, stir up memories, change your mood, and can spark creativity. Mood wise, music can easily improve a person’s mood, whether you feel anxious, stressed, sad, etc. It has many calming effects, like helping the nervous system recover faster or releasing dopamine and cortisol.
They are both neurochemicals, dopamine being the chemical associated with pleasure/happiness, and cortisol being the stress hormone, meaning that you actively release stress when listening to music. Music like classical and jazz has even helped with symptoms of depression.
Music can affect a person’s emotional intelligence in many ways, like lullabies, singing, playing an instrument, or even just getting the chills. Not just that, but it can also calm you if you’re nervous or stressed. So, music actually can change a person or shape their emotional intelligence in the future.
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