Research on anger processing has found that approach motivation (defined as the impulse to move forward) may be activated by anger (Carver and Harmon-Jones, 2009), such that after experiencing anger we then look to act out approach motivated behaviors, for example, angry facial expression and physical retaliation. Certainly, evidence is available regarding the effect of a listeners’ emotional state on their choice and preference for music listening even when angry. Perhaps, due to these musical characteristics, it has been claimed that extreme music leads to anger, and expressions of anger such as aggression, delinquency, drug use, and suicidal acts (Selfhout et al., 2008). Extreme music is characterized by chaotic, loud, heavy, and powerful sounds, with emotional vocals, often containing lyrical themes of anxiety, depression, social isolation, and loneliness (Shafron and Karno, 2013). Heavy metal, emotional (emo), hardcore, punk, screamo, and each of their subgenres form the category of “extreme” music. Music is a widely available form of media with the ability to influence attitudes and manipulate emotions (Juslin and Sloboda, 2010 Wheeler et al., 2011), and listeners are drawn to music that reflects or improves their emotional state (Saarikallio, 2011 Thoma et al., 2012 Papinczak et al., 2015). Listening to extreme music may represent a healthy way of processing anger for these listeners. The findings indicate that extreme music did not make angry participants angrier rather, it appeared to match their physiological arousal and result in an increase in positive emotions.
PANAS active and inspired ratings increased during music listening, an effect that was not seen in controls. Heart rate increased during the anger induction and was sustained (not increased) in the music condition, and decreased in the silence condition. Results showed that ratings of PANAS hostility, irritability, and stress increased during the anger induction, and decreased after the music or silence. Measures of emotion included heart rate and subjective ratings on the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). In this study, 39 extreme music listeners aged 18–34 years were subjected to an anger induction, followed by random assignment to 10 min of listening to extreme music from their own playlist, or 10 min silence (control). The claim that listening to extreme music causes anger, and expressions of anger such as aggression and delinquency have yet to be substantiated using controlled experimental methods.
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