Noise and loud music.
Psychological analysis and preventive measures

August Schick

(Published in: Berichte aus dem Institut zur Erforschung von Mensch-Umwelt-Beziehungen, University of Oldenburg, Number 38 (2001), 12 pages)

Summary

The article interprets the phenomenon of loud music and noise from different perspectives and different world views.

Today, rock-pop-techno-rave music has become a self-evident element of youth culture. For young people, music plays a central role in the creation, staging and search for their life worlds - far more so than literature or art. Literary texts can often only be communicated through the medium of music.

Especially in the adolescent phase, young people seem to discover this music, which today is almost part of the everyday life of normal youth. The causes of young people's enjoyment of loud music are linked to their attitude to life; if prevention is to be pursued, more must therefore be taken into account than simply providing information about hearing damage. You can't rip the Walkman off young people's heads and you can't lock them out of discos.

This lecture can be requested free of charge from the Institute for Research on Human-Environment Relations, University of Oldenburg, Postfach 5634, 26046 Oldenburg,

email: Fax: 0441 - 798-5522, Tel. 798-5523.