According to John Santrock's book, Adolescence, ten through twenty-four-year-olds buy 67% of all music albums. When young adolescents become interested in music, they tend to listen to what is trendy, (the top 40's). By high school, they prefer other types as well and develop their own taste. Boys tend to listen to hard rock, and girls tend to enjoy soft rock, especially songs that have romantic themes.
             Santrock claims that most adolescents are not concerned with song lyrics, but he does not site a study to back up his statement. I know many adolescents who care deeply about what song lyrics are saying, who analyse them and even write e-mail reports. Therefore, I challenge his notion. Since I have naturalistic observation to support my claim, and Santrock has his Ph.D., it is his word against mine.
             The text points out how everyone wants to point the finger at song lyrics. Parents cry out that rock 'n roll corrupts their poor, innocent children. Music lyrics bring up several issues, ones pertaining to deviant behaviour, sexism, and depression. When dealing with the psychological impact of music on adolescents, there are many cans of worms. I will just open one; I will only focus on how song lyrics affect the moods of adolescents.
             "Which came first - the music or the misery? Do I listen to pop music because I am miserable or am I miserable because I listen to pop music?"
             Some people believe that pop music drives adolescents to suicides and parasuicides. Santrock mentions cases where parents claimed that the music of Judas Priest and Ozzy Osbourne influenced their adolescent's suicide. Santrock sites a research team, Ballard and Coates, who told the press that research has not supported these parents' conclusions. There is, however, validity to what they are saying, for two reasons: often the lyrics of the previously mentioned musicians are self-degrading, and they encourage learned helplessness.
             Som...