Maybe you've also heard sayings like "Who would listen to that?" or " How does that not make you aggressive?". In general, there are many prejudices associated with our favorite genre. Now you can put an end to that, because after reading this article you can prove to everyone that metal is actually good for your psyche!
Metal is said to be too loud, too wild, rather comparable to inhuman noise and "you can't call that music!" Tastes are known to be different, but with metal this is somehow never really accepted. Nevertheless, it is certain that in the lyrics, metal singers usually do not mince their words, even when it comes to tough topics like violence, world-weariness or death. There is screaming, wild riffs are pounded into the guitars and you have to admit: The differences to pop are huge in every aspect.
But is the question whether the brute and wild music somehow affects the psyche justified? It definitely is, but it must be made clear that this does not have to be a negative thing.
Studies Prove: Metal Does Not Make You Aggressive And Angry
A study from 2015 from the University of Queensland proves: People who listen to metal may actually be calmer and more balanced. To find out, a small number of metalheads were put under stress to evoke the emotion of anger in them. To calm down, they were then asked to play ten songs of their own choice or enjoy ten minutes of silence.
So the subjects reached for the music that most closely matched their emotional state. Even the wildest songs managed to bring the heart rate back down - so they didn't become angrier or even aggressive as a result of the music. On the contrary, it even seemed to evoke positive emotions.
A few songs that made the cut included Parkway Drive's "Dark Days," Slipknot's "Opium for the People" and Metallica's "Master of Puppets." A full run-down of the study can be found here.
Other Studies Also Confirm The Assumption
Writing for "Psychologie Heute" (Psychology Today), scientist and musician Jörg Scheller compared metal to resilience training. In doing so, he refers to the results of a 2018 study, which also found that extreme music is more likely to help participants master difficult situations. As a result, mental health problems might even be reduced.
Another study surveyed 377 people who had been addicted to the genre since the 80s. Maybe you know how people felt about heavy metal in the USA during the 80s. Bands like Judas Priest were accused by religious groups of worshiping Satan, which caused some controversies. The questioning of the participants then finally revealed that those who started listening to metal at an early age seem happier today and would worry less about problems than those who prefer other genres of music or hardly listen to music at all.
Especially For Teenagers, Metal Can Be A Huge Anchor
While the lyrics of metal songs tend to be pretty heavy, studies have still found that heavy metal can play an important role in the mental health of adolescents, especially when they are going through difficult situations and life stages. The Journal of Community Psychology published a study in 2018 that proved that heavy metal even contributes to improved socioemotional functioning in young people who feel disadvantaged or marginalized.
The music would provide a kind of protective function and could protect against negative environmental factors. For example, all of the subjects in the study stated that they had experienced exclusion at school, but had always experienced a sense of acceptance and belonging in the metal scene. A more detailed summary of the study can be found here.
Conclusion: Heavy Metal Is Good For The Psyche
Although the studies on the subject of heavy metal are not yet as extensive as other areas of research, the first findings are definitely here and make it clear: Metal does not harm, but even helps our psyche! We are sure that you are already aware of this, but now you can also argue with psychological knowledge, if someone questions Metal, Metalcore or Deathcore again.
