r/Jamaica • u/Glittering_Ad_3112 Clarendon • May 17 '24
Music Does music influence behavior ?
Specifically dancehall and the behavior of students. Personally I believe it does and really want to hear a good counter argument
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u/HandleUnclear May 17 '24
I personally don't believe it does, simply because of my own personal experience. Music has affected my mood, but definitely not my behavior.
I grew up in a ghetto in Jamaica, no matter all the daggering songs, giving bun, and violence, that I heard unwillingly, it didn't change my behavior, much less mindset.
A friend of mine who grew up in a similar situation, has her PhD and loves these songs. She explained that it is a document of the reality and culture she had to endure, and so it makes her feel validated that her experiences growing up, were not just her own perception.
Her opinion is that these songs reflect the reality of the impoverished that mid and upper class Jamaicans like to ignore, and that these songs are affected by that cultural struggle, not the songs that affect the culture.
Edit: I can see how some people will use this validation of their experience, as a go ahead to continue behaviors that are unhealthy; especially when one is impoverished and there is no real way to better your life in Jamaica.
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u/Northerndon1 May 17 '24
I'm a believer that music is a product of lived experience and people relate to music that they can empathise with, music doesn't influence life negatively but it shows the negativity of life, if life get tougher the music get tougher if music get tougher more people relate. Anyways " one love"
Anyway I'm gonna go listen to Lutan Fyah " Weed Oooh" and tek a draw.
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u/Jamie_Pull_That_Up May 17 '24
Music & Media as a whole definitely influences people even if it's slightly. What you hear on the radio, in books & film can influence & shape you over time.
Chattel Slavery & Colonialism didn't pop up out of nowhere.
To get the people on board with the idea of sailing halfway across the world to "civilize" US by stealing our resources, eliminating our languages & forcing their form of Christianity on us to pacify us they got their people comfortable with the idea by putting racist advertisements about us in their newspapers on the regular to dehumanize our people & warp the peoples minds over time.
& That is a historical fact. Now are you going to dismiss and say "well not everyone fell victim to the propaganda so none of this is true" ?
It'll be foolish to do so. Some are more gullible & susceptible than others. Sure there was people who were anti slavery back then in the UK because they didn't agree with it. But at the same time a good chunk of the population fell victim to what they saw & read in their newspapers. As technology advanced it went to radio & later on film.
It's the same thing in Jamaica but with radio this time. Just because YOU didn't fall victim to the propaganda in the music that's coming out today doesn't mean it's not influencing a good chunk of the masses.
Music & media as a whole can be used as tool for good like when our people use it to resist colonial oppression & it can be used for bad when negativity is what they're pushing out.
Congratulations to you for not falling victim to the propaganda but to say it doesn't exist because of YOUR personal experience is an insane take.
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u/PresentTap9255 May 17 '24
What about other songs… that aren’t dancehall… do those also have no effect on behavior .. ? Also if something can swing your mood, isn’t it what causes you to probably be happy or sad; so in effect what ever actions you do during a mood change is also change of behavior?
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u/HandleUnclear May 17 '24
For me, feeling an emotion doesn't equate to a change in behavior. I grew up in a children must be seen and not heard household, I was told showing negative emotions is a weakness, and must always show that I am happy. I had no say, much less could express opinions or thoughts, so mastering the art of masking and bottling up my negative emotions were all I knew.
From my perspective, feeling something doesn't mean I have to act on it.
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u/PresentTap9255 May 17 '24
But the mere fact that you’re bottling negative feelings has an outcome on your actions no?
For example your mom tells you no TV and you turn it off, but you slightly slam the door to your room, because now your mood has changed…
However I get what you’re saying in terms of discipline, that also affected your behavior (more than your mood per se).
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u/HandleUnclear May 17 '24
But the mere fact that you’re bottling negative feelings has an outcome on your actions no?
But learning to bottle up feelings was from how I was nurtured, not music.
For example your mom tells you no TV and you turn it off, but you slightly slam the door to your room, because now your mood has changed…
I can't relate to this thinking at all, any sort of poor behavior or perceived slight/disrespect would have resulted in me being physically battered. I was raised to be a postal bride, I was simply expected to behave lady like and "perfect" at all times.
However I get what you’re saying in terms of discipline, that also affected your behavior (more than your mood per se).
This is why I say from my personal experience, I don't think music does, much like I don't believe feelings dictate actions. Feelings can be felt without being acted upon, feelings can be valid without being acted upon. To me people's actions are dictated by their choices, even if music can illicit feelings, it's still up to the person to choose how they behave.
I think people use music as a scape goat, much like they'll blame video games, or Pokemon/Yu Gi Oh cards. Those things don't cause anyone to do anything, much less influence conscious, "intelligent" beings into behaving immorally.
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u/PresentTap9255 May 17 '24
Fair enough.. but without that discipline I don’t think you can be so strong minded. But okay I understand
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u/Reasonable_Pride_381 May 18 '24
Not everyone is the same as you, some persons don’t have a mind of there own, to say that music doesn’t influence behavior just because it didn’t influence yours doesn’t make sense, your personal experience doesn’t speak for the entire Jamaica or even the world on a whole. Let me give you an example if you still don’t understand. When vybz kartel song about Clark’s that prompted the whole Jamaica to start buying clarks and that’s now the reason it is now the most popular shoes in Jamaica. Kartel song about bleaching and now Jamaica has an epidemic of skin bleachers. That’s how music influence behavior; it probably didn’t influence the action to bleach you skin but that doesn’t mean it didn’t to others. Next example, when you compare Jamaicas culture how it is right now to 5 years ago it is totally different, every Jamaican nowadays has a guard ring, this didn’t used to be prevalent 5 years ago. Nowadays you can’t have a conversation with someone without them mentioning Guzu or obeah, that used to be something that was condemned, now it is something that is freely talked about openly and embraced. This is due to the surging of demonic and satanic music now dominating out air ways and it has negatively impacted our culture, this was never the norm 5 years ago so why the sudden change? Did the culture just change randomly overnight? No, we all know the answer. So to say that music doesn’t influence behavior is quite strange
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u/Elegant-Step6474 May 17 '24
It is well understood by musicians that it does. if I play three note chords in c major you will feel comfortable, at ease and happy. If I play dissonant and diminished chords you will feel tense and uncomfortable. Rhythms also work in the same way as melody in this sense. You can create tension and urgency with fast and syncopated rhythms or you can create calm and certainty by using slow and steady rhythms. To anybody who questions whether music influences mood and behaviour, ask yourself this: could you dance all night to smooth jazz in the way that you could dance all night to dancehall or afrobeats? If not, why not? Could you make love with your girlfriend or boyfriend while listening to hill and gully rider? Probably wouldn’t be the right vibe would it?
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u/Maleficent-Seesaw412 Jun 11 '24
Just wanna chime in and say the question was about behavior, not mood. I don't think anyone disputes the mood part.
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u/Elegant-Step6474 Jun 13 '24
I understand still. I would say that mood influences behaviour but maybe I’m wrong
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u/dearyvette May 17 '24
Music has a strong influence on culture, and culture influences behavior, ways of thinking, and aspirations.
It’s the same principle with which advertising works: anything that is repeated and repeated and sinks in.
With regard to students, in particular, the context in which music is “applied” is important. For example, music in the classroom could be harmful for introverted individuals, those with learning disabilities, dyslexia, psychological stress, low blood sugar, and hearing deficits. For these kinds of people, it’s an “extra” stimulant that can negatively affect concentration. For students with things like ADHD, music in the classroom could be beneficial in allowing them to focus.
There’s a large spectrum the ways in which different brains process information.
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u/kokokaraib May 17 '24
It reinforces behaviour already incentivised.
Nobody is gonna turn rude just because a song told them to
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u/WaytooReddit May 17 '24
There we go. We're always looking for a scapegoat to blame for our societal problems. It's rare for someone with opportunities and training in any other field to turn to crime solely because of the influence of music.
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u/palmarni May 17 '24
It’s among other variables that can affect behavior. I don’t if it does by itself but when other factors come into play the summation can be influential.
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u/persona-non-grater May 17 '24
Music, movies, books. These are not just for entertainment, they can be used for propaganda, conditioning and the like. So yes, music changes behaviour.
You are what you consume.
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u/a_fortunate_accident May 17 '24
It's well-known and used (e.g in marketing) that music can influence mood and behavior Any contrary personal feelings and anecdotal evidence on the matter any of you may have are irrelevant. Some people just love to argue for argument's sake, annoying.
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u/Jamie_Pull_That_Up May 17 '24
Yes. Music & Media as a whole influence behavior. Media is a form of propaganda that can influence people.
To justify slavery white people in Britain printed out racist cartoon advertisements in their newspapers on the regular to dehumanize our people & got them comfortable with the idea of "civilizing" people in Africa & other parts of the global south for their own gain.
It starts with newspaper, as technology progressed it went on to radio. Technology progressed even more & we have films that can influence people. It's an ever evolving cycle.
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u/KyleW876 May 17 '24
I’ve lived in Jamaica for 27 years and I can say with absolutely certainty that yes music influences behaviour. Look no further than Vybz Kartel(who I like) and how he made Clarks, bleaching, tattoos, etc really popular. Sections of the society worship him
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u/alagrancosa May 17 '24
Clarks didn’t become popular with him, I think the Clark’s thing predates me and I predate 27 years ago.
Having said that, I absolutely believe that music and other popular art is incredibly influential. If gun music is big than more people want to be a gunman.
27(ish) years ago when the first fast and furious movie came out that sort of car culture really got big.
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u/KyleW876 May 17 '24
Yes the clarks thing didn’t start with him but they definitely exploded in popularity among younger people after he and popcaan did that song
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u/ralts13 May 17 '24
I remember clarks being a popular shoe brand among older folks for being durable and decent looking. But no teenager or young adult was flocking into the streets to buy a new pair of Clarks.
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u/alagrancosa May 17 '24
Clark’s were also popular with the younger demographic back in the 70’s and 80s
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u/ralts13 May 17 '24
Yeah but we're speaking about hownkartel influenced youth during the latter part of the 2000s and the early 2010s. No teen was running out to grab a Clarkes until kartel started repping them.
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u/Green-Doughnut7008 May 17 '24
As I approach 30, I'm starting to believe it does. Mostly negatively.
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u/Secret-Helicopter-99 May 17 '24
Yes very much so. Met so many people who copy and follow everything they see and hear from their favorite artists
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u/Ok-Network-8826 May 17 '24
It rubs me the wrong way when rajah wild says “me a get pvssy from me deh inna e third grade” 😐
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u/Glittering_Ad_3112 Clarendon May 17 '24
Him ah lie or admitting to getting molested. Either way not good, not good at all
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u/Saltedcaramelmacroon May 18 '24
Yes. Vybz Kartel ruined Jamaica.
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u/Glittering_Ad_3112 Clarendon May 18 '24
Vybz didn't start the slackness in music tho, that was long before him
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u/TekT1me May 17 '24 edited May 17 '24
Anything can influence if you’re weak minded
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u/Dependent_onPlantain May 17 '24
It does impacts or affects behaviour, but it would depend on conditions.
Right now drill music is the uk version of bad man culture, they mostly talk about stabbing and shooting (ops) and selling drugs. Kids of all backgrounds love it, especially middle class kids.
Middle class kids are not stabbing each other up, or selling drugs. They may be taking more drugs, they may be using more street slang, might be wearing clothes that would make them fit in, in an (urban) environment, actually they all dress mostly the same (drill music fans)
But there isn't a massive rise in middle class kids, going to prison because there stabbing and shooting each other, because those behaviours wouldn't make sense for them. They have other influences that make those behaviors a no go.
Ive used a class example but it will be the same for all kids what ever the background. They would need other influences that normalize and those negative behaviors, and even reward them. A kid that grows up with a dad or mum selling drugs, is more likely to sell drugs. Behaviour depends on conditions, music will have an impact but it wont be the only thing thats affecting behaviour.
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u/RASTATIREGUY May 17 '24
Yes. This is a fact. Its also a fact that certain things may affect one person and not the other. Just because something doesnt affect you does not mean it cant affect your neighbor. The system knows what its doing when it comes to music, the CIA wrote journals on the affect/effects of Rap Music. As a open minded discenring person , I love Kartel music but I have to sensor and choose certain songs to play around my daughter as the music creates a energy not neccesarily positive all the time.
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May 18 '24 edited Jul 31 '24
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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/International-Play29 May 17 '24
Mood yes, behavior no.
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u/Glittering_Ad_3112 Clarendon May 17 '24
So if music influences your "mood," don't you think that mood influence action ?
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u/Binggggman May 17 '24
music can really control you on a deeper level. Theres a video out on the internet i saw of someone playing different songs on his speakers with multiple water bottles on top of the speakers and the difference in the frequency in the water was noticeable with each song, and our bodies are typically 60% water. Also they have been making war/love/peace songs for decades. hell, even indentured servants/ slavery days we used to sing a certain song depending on our mood! Music will be here long before any of us and be here long after any of us thats why its beautiful
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u/Additional-Release94 May 18 '24
Yes it does. To say otherwise is disingenuous. Our Culture is our music, the arts, food, social behaviour, etc. They all have influences on each other. If crime is glorified in the music the behaviour will reflect just that, and if the behaviour is criminal activity the music will reflect just.
The problem is, in the 90s gun chune was underground to the wider public, and had to go to specific places like the inner city and dance parties to hear it. All we were hearing before was dancing music, and whining music. Back then we had a serious problem with gang violence, places getting shot up, drive-by shooting etc so the music reflected that. Now we have scamming, sex, drugs and individual acts of violence. So our music is reflecting just that. With the darker side of violent music now being publicly accepted it fuels the egos and the behaviour of society, which in turn fuels the music.
If you are a person who thinks music has no influence on you at all then I would like you to consider that as a child into your formative young adult years:
- You're had strict parenting
- You have a keen sense of self
- You always had something to eat.
- You always had somewhere to sleep.
- You've never feared for your life everyday.
This is a privilege that some people didn't have. If you're in a hostile environment growing up, all around you is crime, and your favourite artist is someone singing about killing, robbing, scamming. You're gonna be influenced by it and in turn your action will influence it.
So we don't need more violent music, we can bring back the dancing music to shift the cultural consciousness so that aggressive behaviour in spaces is frowned upon and not applauded.
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u/israfildivad May 19 '24 edited May 19 '24
It has a very minimal influence. Jamaica has farrrr too many longstanding issues to think our violence problem has much to do with the music. In fact I believe the (violent) music is as much a pacifier as it is an instigator, and thus mostly serves as a reflection of the society. The politicians who are robbing us blind and the primary culprit that start the problems ball rolling dont listen to dancehall music. In the US rap music is just as hard-core yet African Americans are making solid strides in the society, violence especially has decreased significantly in the last 30 years. I remember when Bill Cosby use to hit out hard against rap in the 90s and then turns out he's a bigger criminal than the worst of what the rappers were on about. Thats the type of hypocrisy we dealing with
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u/Exact-Coder4798 May 20 '24
Yes sure. Those who watch and listen in on others, do they not fall into a trap? Hello
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u/shango001 May 17 '24
Yes. I listen to different music to give a different vibe intentionally. E.g. souls keep me mellow and dancehall give a more pumped vibe, while reggae gives a half and half. If I'd only listen to one then I'd likely be geared towards that type of energy only - hence modifying my behavior overtime.
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u/[deleted] May 17 '24
Yes look at modern day Jamaica now it promotes lawlessness, bad man culture and promiscuous culture, and it’s out of control. Sometimes mi affi feel sorry fi this and the next generation.