Many parents are alarmed when they discover that their children have developed a taste for rap music, but is there really any reason for concern?

Studies have been conducted to assess the effects of listening to rap music on teenagers and young adults. Findings thus far are mixed, but overall they suggest that listening to rap music does not cause aggressive or deviant behaviour.

Perception of Crime and Violence

One study found that young subjects who watched violent rap videos were more accepting of violent actions, particularly against women. Additionally, those who watched either violent or nonviolent rap videos were more inclined to express materialistic attitudes and favor potentially acquiring possessions through crime, as well as holding more negative views on the likelihood of succeeding through academic pursuits.

Another study found that adolescent females, after watching a rap video depicting women in sexually subordinate roles, were more inclined to express acceptance of violence against women in a dating situation. However, increased acceptance of crime and violence appears to be linked with viewing violent or sexist rap videos rather than listening to rap music on its own.

Attitudes Toward Women

Young men who had little previous exposure to rap music were the subjects of an experiment in which researchers had one group listen to rap music with lyrics, another listen to rap music without lyrics, a third just read the lyrics, and a fourth group neither listen nor read. After the exposure, none of the subjects held more negative attitudes toward women, but those who read or heard the lyrics were more inclined to express adversarial sexual beliefs.

As would be expected, only rap music with misogynistic themes appears to create misogynistic attitudes and greater acceptance of violence against women. Other types of rap do not have a negative effect on the perception of women.

Behavioral Problems

Although research has found a correlation between preference for heavy metal or rap music and behavioral problems, drug or alcohol use, arrests and sexual promiscuity, these behavioral problems usually begin before students begin listening to rap or heavy metal, which indicates that the music does not cause behavioral problems or addiction. Rather, it suggests that at-risk youth are more inclined to prefer heavy metal or rap music.

Academic Achievement

While a number of studies have associated lower grades with students who listen to rap or heavy metal music, one study found that white students actually improved their academic abilities after watching rap videos, as well as expressing more progressive attitudes—after watching politically focused rap videos, they were more inclined to support a liberal black political candidate. Unfortunately, there was no indication of similar research being conducted with black students.

Mood

Listening to rap or heavy metal has not been shown to increase suicidal ideation and anxiety or adversely affect self-esteem among college-aged men and women. Oddly enough, students listening to a nonviolent rap song experienced more depressive symptoms than those who listened to a violent rap song. Overall, rap songs are more inclined to generate angry emotions than heavy metal songs, however.

Unfairly Maligned

Some research suggests that people may ascribe negative effects to rap due to subconscious racism. Subjects who were given a violent lyrical passage were more inclined to rate it as dangerous or offensive if they believed it came from a rap song than if they were told that it originated from a country music song.

Violence Prevention

In Marseille, France, rap and hip hop are thriving musical forms, and many residents believe that the positive effects of this music are the reason poor North African neighborhoods in the region have not suffered the rioting seen in other areas of Paris.

Conclusion

Overall, there is no consistent evidence that rap music on its own (without videos) significantly influences behaviors or attitudes. Also, while those who are not fans of rap tend to assume that all songs in the genre focus on violent, criminal or misogynistic themes, in reality, rap is a diverse genre, with many artists addressing important socio-political issues and positive themes, so all rap music cannot be lumped together in a single category.

Further Reading

For more information on music psychology, please see:

• Music Psychology and Behavior
• The Psychology of Classical Music
• The Psychology of Heavy Metal Music

References:

• Carrie, F. (1999). “Who's afraid of rap: Differential reactions to music lyrics.” Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 29(4), 705-721.
• Cobb, M.D., & Boettcher, III, W.A. (2007). “Ambivalent sexism and misogynistic rap music: Does exposure to Eminem increase sexism?” Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 37(12), 3025-3042.
• Johnson, J.D.; Jackson, L.A.; & Gatto, L. (1995). “Violent attitudes and deferred academic aspirations: Deleterious effects of exposure to rap music.” Basic & Applied Social Psychology, 16(1/2), 27-41.
• Kimmelman, M. (19 December 2007). “In Marseille, rap helps keep the peace.” New York Times, 157(54163), E1-E5.
• Tatum, B.L. (1999). “The link between rap music and youth crime and violence: A review of the literature and issues [HTML Version].” Justice Professional, 11(3).
• Wester, S.R.; Crown, C.L.; Quatman, G.L.; & Heesacker, M. (1997)."The influence of sexually violent rap music on attitudes of men with little prior exposure.” Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21(4), 497.