How does sight / sound affect our moods?

caff · 16 Jan 2008 at 21:47

I'm interested in studying how humans can be affected by sight and sounds, particularly for the purposes of changing mood (e.g. becoming relaxed, or more alert). My knowledge on this is all very limited, but if anyone can give some background on this, or recommend books / research I can look into, that would be fantastic. I'm not entirely sure where to start.

Thanks!

caff · 16 Jan 2008 at 22:03

Excellent, thanks - I will have a look

Any other advice much appreciated

caff · 16 Jan 2008 at 22:24

Indeed, music seems to be a great mood alterer, but people can have radically different tastes. For example - would the soft, romantic classical music of Debussy work on everyone?

caff · 16 Jan 2008 at 23:12

Do you consider it like a memory technique, ie. is it something you can make happen, or does it just happen to you?

I'm reading about colour too - typically blue seems to relate to relaxation - but I can't believe everyone associates blue with calmness.

caff · 17 Jan 2008 at 00:11

AcidHell2 said:
Not sure how. But music can dramatically change my mood. Opera singing is the biggest change. It makes me moody, depressed and violent . as well as round up and irritable.

Where a nice bit of metal/rock chills me out and is very relaxing.

This interests me, as personally I probably have the polar opposite of this association. Do you find so-called ambient music or classical music calming? (I can, however, understand opera making you angry

)

If anyone has studied psychology or knows anything else about visual / audible stimulus, I'd be most grateful.