“If in the development of a person’s talent for music, stress is laid upon the enjoyment it will give further listeners, he is being made conscious of the social significance of his own accomplishments and this helps the development of the personality as a contributing member of the community.
“Music contributes emotional energy needed to turn dissatisfaction into mental reconstruction. The playing of music arouses associations which stimulate the intellect and if this is sufficient it gives satisfaction and enhances self respect.” But “We must be careful to excite only those activities that will be followed by a feeling of success”.
“The intellectual stimuli of music bring the expenditure of emotional energy from unconscious levels to conscious and intellectually controlled levels ... a concentration on environment stimuli instead of intrapsychic impulses, a perseverance in effort to adjust one’s own conduct to group standards.”
Altshuler[2] points out that the seat of all sensation, emotion, and esthetic feeling (the thalamus) is not involved in mental illness, and is directly attacked by music. The musical stimulation of the thalamus automatically transfers from this “below awareness” level to the brain cortex.
“Little constructive therapy is possible as long as the patient is acutely disturbed; therefore anything which may lessen disturbance and bring about association familiar to the patient and which will revive thoughts to a real level will be desirable.”
Psychoneurosis differs from psychosis in that the patient recognizes that he is ill and wants to get well, although his more powerful subconscious desire does not. Several types are recognized.
Hysteria is an unconscious reaction on the part of an individual to solve a personal problem by the acquisition of some symptom or symptoms. If this is done consciously it is called malingering. Any and every physical or mental symptom is possible. Examples of physical involvement are blindness, paralysis, aches and pains. Mental manifestations may include loss of memory, delirium, etc. Hysteria permits the patient to achieve his purpose and maintain his self-respect. It is an escape mechanism to evade responsibility, excuse failure, or gain attention.
Many forms of treatment have been used and each physician uses his own approach. The more commonly accepted methods include psychotherapy, persuasion, suggestion, and psycho-analysis. Psychotherapy encourages the patient to talk about his condition and with the guidance of the psychiatrist discover the basis of his difficulties. Logical persuasion is used but is not considered effective by most. Suggestion under hypnosis is used by some who are expert in hypnotism. Psychoanalysis attempts to discover the subconscious thoughts and experiences which have caused the disturbance.
Music may be of some value for this group. Levine[56] believes that
“Many individuals achieve a feeling of self-confidence if they develop hobbies such as music. Learning to play musical instruments may compensate a feeling of inferiority, especially when the individual has ability which he underestimates.”