26 Jan The Potential of Music to Effect Social Change
ABSTRACT: This article discusses the relationship between music and social behavior, exploring the origins of this connection and the potential benefits it offers for society. It highlights Plato’s belief in the power of music to shape individuals positively and inhibit negative traits and delves into the historical perspectives of Condillac, Rousseau, and Webb, who theorized that music emerged as a means of emotional communication and played a crucial role in human social interaction. The article further explores the theories of music’s influence on social behavior, including the concept of musilanguage and the importance of synchrony, imitation, and communication in music-making. It emphasizes the need for experimental research to evaluate these theories and understand the underlying mechanisms of music’s impact on social skills. Additionally, the article suggests the possibility of engineering new forms of music or music-making that maximize the positive effects of music on social behavior. It discusses various approaches, such as collaborative music-making, music in education, composition techniques, and the use of art and technology. However, it also acknowledges the potential ethical concerns associated with using music as a tool for social manipulation.
AUTHOR SUMMARY: Tal-Chen Rabinowitch
READ MORE: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2059204320939772
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