Manipulation through background music

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2008 in the subject Musicology - Miscellaneous, grade: 2, University of Graz, language: English, abstract: The article deals with the different kinds of manipulation of background music on the humanbeing. Several studies are discussed about the consequences of background music on decisionmaking, driving, buying, eating at a restaurant, etc. The question about the possibilities of anescape from the influence of music is asked and discussed. At first the functions andmechanisms of background music are elaborated, before the effects on the human being arediscussed. Subsequently tests are presented about the various influences of background musicin order to achieve control of people. Furthermore the controversies about the famous Mozart-Effect are taken into consideration. It is also interesting to know how background music hasan impact on the physical body. To explain this phenomenon the working mechanisms of thebrain are illuminated by including the latest findings about brain and music in the last months.This article ends with some concrete suggestions how to overcome being influenced andmanipulated by background music.