THE INTERFERENCE OF MUSIC IN EMOTIONS

Abstract

Emotions are momentary affective reactions triggered by stimuli, considered innate reflexes, natural and involuntary physiological responses of human beings. The influence of music on human emotions, defined in dictionaries as sounds that elicit emotional responses or sensations, motivated this research to investigate the why and how of this complex relationship. The methodology used was qualitative, employing a systematic bibliographic review. The search for relevant articles took place in the Virtual Health Library (BVS) and Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo) databases, covering publications from 2020 to 2024. In the scientifically recognized theories and research of Watson and Skinner, behaviors not learned throughout life are identified, innate reflexes, common physiological responses between humans and animals, in which emotions fit. In the context of this research, music is initially considered a neutral stimulus, lacking the ability to evoke an immediate emotional response. However, from the moment the individual develops, creating unique memories and experiences, music, once a neutral stimulus, can begin to have a personal meaning and, consequently, transform into a conditioned stimulus, capable of triggering specific emotional responses. Based on the results found in this review, it is correct to state that it is in fact recognized that music exerts an influence on human emotions, and that this intricate process occurs through established emotional pairings, the activation of individual memory, accumulated life experiences and internalized social and cultural behaviors.