Международный научно-образовательный электронный журнал «образование и наука в XXI веке». Выпуск №25 (том 3)

The Impact of Pop Music on Adolescents
Understanding the role of pop music in adolescent culture also requires an 
understanding of adolescence. Since the indicators of biological and social 
development of adolescents differ greatly, they have different addictions to popular 
music [1,2]. Music affects the psyche in different ways. Some of them are calming, 
some inspiring, while others turn them against society and increase their aggression, 

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so they should be used very carefully, as they can both inspire or increase the 
depression state of young people. 
We must analyze what kind of music a teenager listens to, since this stage of life 
is full of crises, rebellion against the authority of adults and conflicts. "For most 
children, adolescence is a period of normal, gradual development largely in accordance 
with parental values and cultural expectations." About 10 percent of families are 
dominated by serious generational conflicts, and another 25 percent consider this 
period less happy for their families than in previous years. The meaning teens take from 
music videos or lyrics is partly determined by their stage of life [4]. As the authors 
note, people in general do not so much discover the meanings of texts as construct 
them, relying on the knowledge they already have. 
Pop music has caused a lot of controversy, at least today the controversy has 
intensified, and statements about it have even become noticeable [3,6]. When it comes 
to popular music, insane conviction and lack of agreement go hand in hand, like 
Siamese twins. Experts say the musical messages are not synonymous with its effects 
and remind adults that most of them suffered "at least some kind of media violence" in 
their youth. They also warn adults not to lose sight of the sad reality, bad influence on 
the psyche of young people, in order to support and realize their national heritage. 
Music can have serious consequences because it is not only entertainment, art 
can be uplifting and vice versa. In several studies, researchers have found that music 
videos infused with images of violence make young male viewers more hostile towards 
women and more likely to indulge in violence in themselves and others. In another 
study of college students who showed a series of videos of varying levels of violence, 
the researchers found that "as the violence increased, students said they felt less happy, 
more fearful, more anxious and aggressive"[5]. Another study of combining violence 
found no significant effect. The authors say more research is needed to clarify the 
impact with any precision. “No doubt it depends on the type of violence,” they wrote.

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Generally, though, differences in music taste are "not random or idiosyncratic 
but shaped by social background and other environmental influences." At the same 
time, the researchers say, it's important to remember that "popular music genres rarely 
express anything resembling a coherent world view" and the themes of songs are more 
varied than themes in other media.