How Music Psychology Could Help You and, Climate!?

Dr Helen Prior, Senior Lecturer in Music, University of Hull

When we think about fighting climate change, music isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. Solar panels, electric cars, and policy changes dominate the conversation. But what if music itself could be a secret agent in tackling the climate crisis?

In a fascinating article published in Music & Science, researcher Helen M. Prior argues that the emotional and social power of music could play a critical role in shifting our environmental behaviors. Drawing on decades of research in music psychology, Prior explores how music might just help close the troubling gap between knowing about climate change and actually taking action.

The Emotional Power of Music

We already know that music moves us. It can lift our mood, bring tears to our eyes, and even shape our identity. People often look up to musicians as role models and share a deep emotional bond with the music they love. Prior highlights how these psychological effects—boosting empathy, strengthening social bonds, and influencing our values—are all highly relevant to inspiring more eco-friendly behaviors.

Studies even suggest that music can foster altruism and a sense of community, both crucial ingredients for collective climate action. In other words, the same emotional pull that gets us dancing or crying during a concert could be channeled to promote sustainability.

Music as a Badge of Values

Another striking insight from Prior’s article is that musical taste often signals a person’s core values. For instance, fans of folk music may be more connected to nature and traditional ways of life, while genres like indie rock or world music may attract listeners with progressive or global-minded values.

Because of this, music can act like a “badge”—a subtle but powerful way of reinforcing and spreading environmental concern among communities. When artists integrate climate messages into their music, they’re not just preaching; they’re embedding those ideas into the very identity of their listeners.

How Artists Are Already Singing for the Planet

Prior surveys a growing number of musical works that deal directly with climate themes. Some pieces literally transform climate data (like rising temperatures) into sound, while others evoke the emotional experience of environmental loss more poetically.

From symphonies built on temperature data to folk songs mourning endangered landscapes, these diverse examples show that music can be both an educational and emotional tool in the climate conversation.

Tackling Our Climate Motivation Gap

A major part of the article delves into behavioral science. Prior reviews Goal Framing Theory, which says people’s actions are driven by three types of goals:

• Hedonic (seeking pleasure)

• Gain (seeking personal resources)

• Normative (seeking to do what’s right)

Often, eco-friendly behaviors seem inconvenient—they might cost time, effort, or comfort. Music, Prior argues, could help here too. It could make sustainable behaviors feel more pleasurable (satisfying hedonic goals), highlight shared environmental norms (strengthening normative goals), and even boost a sense of personal pride (satisfying gain goals).

Imagine a bike ride that feels fun because you're listening to great music, or a climate campaign that bonds people through concerts and anthems. Music could transform "what we should do" into "what we want to do."

A Call for More Musical Climate Action

Prior’s article isn’t just an academic exercise—it’s a call to action. She urges climate campaigns, educators, and activists to take music seriously as a tool for change. Even small shifts—making eco-friendly choices feel a bit more joyful, or building stronger eco-identities through music—could add up to real, meaningful impact. The key takeaway? If we overlook music’s influence, we might be missing a valuable ally in the fight for our humanity and millions of other living species.

Source:  Helen M. Prior (2022), Music & Science.