Music & Youth

Question 1

Describe the stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion, according to Erik Erikson

Answer 1

Negotiated process of examining identity & risk of confusion when others don’t see them the same way; they seek equilibrium; unsure about their place in society

Question 2

How is the Self Aware Stage characterised, according to Jane Loevinger?

Answer 2

Increase in self awareness & the capacity to imagine multiple possibilities in situations; conforming belief with belief of others; deepened interest in interpersonal relations & also self interest; influenced by peer & family beliefs

Question 3

In the mid 50’s, music was the primary agent in the creation of what?;
The 60’s & 70’s saw this divide even more with whom?

Answer 3

A whole new economic & social demographic group (Hollywood & film industry); saw frenzied teenage Elvis Presley fans;
13-18 yr old teenagers & 18-24 yr old market, beginning with Beatle-mania

Question 4

The 80’s & 90’s saw another powerful buying market with whom?;
10-12 yr olds were fondly referred to as…;
In this modern world, music is particularly & increasingly important due to what?

Answer 4

Preteens;
The tweens;
Media-socialising & the multi-tasking adolescent

Question 5

Describe the 2 schools of thought regarding the concept of adolescence

Answer 5

Sturm und Drang (storm & stress) are an inevitable part of adolescence; It is an entirely “new world phenomenon” & doesn’t exist in primitive cultures

Question 6

Margaret Mead investigated if adolescence was a universally traumatic time due to biological factors, or whether it depended on cultural upbringing. How did she do this?;
What did she conclude?;
What was a direct factor?

Answer 6

Observed, interviewed & psychologically tested Samoans over 9 months;
They did not have adolescent stress; different cultural patterns;
Their level of participation in adult chores & shared responsibilities

Question 7

What did Robert Epstein conclude about Sturm und Drang in adolescence?;
Why is it an important time to reconsider this construct?;
What can disrespecting adolescent capacity lead to?

Answer 7

It is culturally derived & doesn’t occur in non-Western cultures;
Rising suicide rates; traditional learning systems being overtaken;
Breakdown of family relationships & role

Question 8

Australian & English studies have found adolescents choose to listen to music for how long per day?;
American studies?;
What about when multi-tasking?

Answer 8

Average of 2.5 (17 hrs per wk);
Between 4-6 hrs per day;
Around 7.5 hrs

Question 9

7 research studies on music-making behaviours have shown what active musical engagement activities to be involved?;
What were the reported outcomes of these activities?

Answer 9

Group music-making; participation in music therapy sessions involving improvisation & songwriting; learning to play an instrument;
Enhanced quality of life - from social connectedness to personal wellbeing

Question 10

The Parents’ Music Resource Centre, an organisation who categorise & censor music, say there is a genuine & constant public concern about a causal relationship between what?

Answer 10

Listening to particular styles of music & behaviour (link between mood & music preference)

Question 11

On the “Dimensions of Risk (negative) & Protection (positive) Associated with Health Properties”, what lies at each end of the spectrum concerning the relationship between musical behaviour & interpersonal relationships?;
What about mood & musical behaviour?;
Coping & musical behaviour?

Answer 11

Risk: alienation; protective: connectedness (social bonding/relationships)
Risk: worsened (negative, associated with depression/anxiety); protective: improved;
Risk: maladaptive (avoidant/disengagement/emotional); protective: adaptive (people/problem oriented coping)

Question 12

There are some unpopular but consistent research results concerning relationships between music behaviour & negative risk factors. What are they?

Answer 12

Poor mental health associated with rap, rave & heavy metal music; violent lyrics act as priming agent for aggressive/hostile behaviour or suicidal thoughts; can escalate behaviour to antisocial risk taking levels; self-harming/suicide & preference for heavy metal & goth; antisocial behaviours & rock/heavy metal music

Question 13

What did Katrina McFerran find when investigating how teenagers use music to manage their moods?;
How did the heavy metal community react to this?

Answer 13

A sub-group of young metal fans who were psychologically distressed reported feeling worse after listening;
Offended that the study promoted a somewhat untrue stereotype of metal fans - “youth at risk of depression”

Question 14

What positive/protective factor did Lacourse et al. find in regards to suicide ideation for girls?;
What did Sullivan find in an African American sample?

Answer 14

Release experienced through music listening was actually inversely related;
Rap music to be life affirming

Question 15

Miranda & Claes found that listening to soul music (hip-hop, R&B) acted as a protective factor against what?;
What can African American music convey?;
What can it assist adolescence with?

Answer 15

Depression symptoms among adolescents;
Positive lyrics, powerful narratives & vivid imagery;
Exploring resilience, self-esteem, coping, self-determination, relatedness & cultural pride

Question 16

Saarakallio & Erkilla recommended a focus on positive outcomes & found what results in a qualitative study of 8 adolescents in Finland?

Answer 16

Mood regulation & improvement central to music experiences; related to enjoyment & positive experiences; functioned as entertainment, diversion, mental work & solace; sometimes temporary decrease in mood but progressed to positive through understanding/clarification of issue; importance of voluntary selection to suit the mood; instinctively knew what they needed to hear

Question 17

McFerran concluded that the majority of highly distressed adolescents used heavy metal to what?;
They seem to be more influenced by what?

Answer 17

Successfully manage their moods, pointing to a complex relationship between selected music & mood;
Intention of listening than by the inherent nature of the music

Question 18

From a developmental perspective, what may music preference be for adolescents?;
It’s often a marker of what?;
Controversial music tastes are not causes of mental health issues, but perhaps what?

Answer 18

A transient state;
Vulnerability rather than a causal factor;
Markers of emotional vulnerability (which is not necessarily pathology but part of Sturm und Drang)

Question 19

Healthy adolescence is defined by the rejection of the family unit & a move towards social networks, & music is…;
Musical preferences serve as a “badge” of…;
Teenagers also sometimes disguise….

Answer 19

An integral part of this process;
Group membership;
Any unusual (or out-group) musical preferences

Question 20

Music can serve as an adjunct component in prevention & intervention in the normal developmental milestones of this phase but also in what?
Adolescents may be more open to & therefore benefit more from what?

Answer 20

The treatment of pathology;

Clinical treatments that reflect & respect their youth culture, & particular perspective on life & health