Study shows that metal music promotes curiosity and scientific thinking

By Angela Garrity, Guest blogger

We’ve heard the phrases “Turn that $hit down!” or “You’re going to hurt yourself banging your head around like that!” probably more times than we care to remember.

iPhoto: 2ser

Fear not, fellow headbanger, for I have good news to share — besides the fact that we already know none of these negative connotations in our choice of music are actually true. In fact, science says it might actually come with some added brain power benefits for fans.

It seems that metal has been portrayed with an unsavory notoriety over the years and was blamed for a whole lot of damaging things by moral grandstanders, who were drowning in the associative and accusatory controversy of a musical aggression they don’t understand.

In the 80s, the Parents Music Resource Center tried to decimate the music industry — but musicians from every genre united and testified against the nanny state mentality. One of the most epic moments in rock history was this full speech given by Dee Snider during the PMRC Senate Hearing.

Cardiff Metropolitan University lecturer and admitted fellow metalhead Nick Perham, shared this study in Neuroscience News and was originally published in The Conversation. Perham gathered research from other recent experiments and determined that not only does heavy metal not cause injury to its fans, it actually promotes generosity and scientific thinking.

“Heavy metal can promote scientific thinking but alas not just by listening to it. Educators can promote scientific thinking by posing claims such as listening to certain genres of music is associated with violent thinking," Perham states. "By examining the aforementioned accusations of violence and offence — which involved world-famous artists like Cradle of Filth, Ozzy Osbourne, and Marilyn Manson — students can engage in scientific thinking, exploring logical fallacies, research design issues, and thinking biases.”

The next “officer of the morality PD” that you come in contact with who tries to tell you that listening to metal is bad for you, throw up the horns baby (or perhaps a middle finger) and let your choice in music be your own.

Angela Garrity is a guest blogger for Death Wish Coffee Co. Her work can be found in Vapun Magazine as well as on their website.

Related: This study explains that metal fans are generally happier

﻿ENTER TO WIN FREE COFFEE: