Psychology of Music
"Bind me—I still can sing—
Banish—my mandolin
Strikes true within—
Slay—and my Soul shall rise
Chanting to Paradise—
Still thine."
~Emily Dickinson
Few human behaviors possess healing powers that rival music. According to Margaret Tilly, Carl Jung argued that, due to its ability to reach deep, often elusive archetypal material, music should be a part of all psychotherapy. It's no coincidence, likely synchronous, that music is a vital element integrated into psychedelic and holotropic treatments. In more traditional clinical exchanges, asking people about their musical preferences during biopsychosocial intake sessions and integrating discussions of relevant and meaningful songs into the treatment process can foster strong therapeutic alliances and deepen the impact of treatment. Expressing emotions through music can be a powerful way to improve emotion regulation.
In the spirit of integrating music into the psychological process more often, CIP offers this Psychology of Music section in an effort to creatively illustrate the myriad ways music and psychology dance dynamically through the human psyche and experience; a dance that enriches lives by tapping into the timeless rhythms of existence & connecting us to deeper parts of our Selves and the cosmos.
The Psychology of Music section is organized around leading theories on the cognition of emotion that emphasize core emotions of fear, anger, sadness, and joy, and we swapped out disgust (due to a paucity of related music) for the enigmatic psychological realm of madness. Songs and artists from anywhere and everywhere are welcome, anything that people find meaningful and helpful in navigating the oceanic waters of human emotional experiences. An ongoing 'work in progress,' we encourage and invite all to submit songs, experiences, reflections, and stories to our mandalic mosaic honoring the impact of music on the ongoing process of understanding what it means to be human.
Explore songs and their connection to core emotions
