Musical escapism is a psychological phenomenon characterized by the use of music to elicit vivid
daydreams and imaginative scenarios, facilitating a temporary disconnection from immediate surroundings.
This practice, a subset of the broader concept of
escapism
Escapism is mental diversion from unpleasant aspects of daily life, typically through activities involving imagination or entertainment. Escapism also may be used to occupy one's self away from persistent feelings of depression or general s ...
, involves active cognitive engagement, wherein listeners become participants in self-constructed narratives inspired by and synchronized with musical stimuli.
The term was coined by Dorsa Rohani at the
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
.
Variety of daydreaming
Musical escapism exists on a spectrum, ranging from casual, brief episodes to more immersive, prolonged experiences.
The phenomenon primarily serves as a medium for entertainment and creative expression to cope with subconscious stressors and anxieties.
However, it is not entirely confined to those seeking solace from adversity; rather, it is a diverse phenomenon with broad appeal, engaging individuals across various life circumstances and psychological states.
It involves constructing vivid, imaginative scenarios synchronized with the auditory experience. These mental constructs may include self-projections, original characters, or adaptations of existing fictional entities within various contexts. The scenarios can range from purely fantastical narratives to idealized representations of real-life situations.
Musical escapism in media
Musical escapism is not officially recognized as a mental disorder, and has attracted significant attention from social media outlets since 2020.
Around the same time, a
trend
A fad, trend, or craze is any form of collective behavior that develops within a culture, a generation, or social group in which a group of people enthusiastically follow an impulse for a short time period.
Fads are objects or behaviors th ...
known as "reality shifting" appeared on
TikTok
TikTok, known in mainland China and Hong Kong as Douyin (), is a social media and Short-form content, short-form online video platform owned by Chinese Internet company ByteDance. It hosts user-submitted videos, which may range in duration f ...
. This trend, similar to intense daydreaming and frequently set to music, became an extremely prevalent
internet phenomenon
Internet phenomena are social and cultural phenomena specific to the Internet, such as Internet memes, which include popular catchphrases, images, viral videos, and jokes. When such fads and sensations occur online, they tend to grow rapidly ...
.
Musical escapism vs. maladaptive daydreaming
Maladaptive daydreaming
Maladaptive daydreaming, also called excessive daydreaming, is when an individual experiences excessive daydreaming that interferes with daily life. It is a proposed diagnosis of a disordered form of dissociative absorption, associated with exc ...
is a psychological condition marked by excessive and immersive fantasies that interfere with daily functioning, leading to concentration difficulties, social withdrawal, and neglect of responsibilities. In contrast, musical escapism is a controlled psychological response to music driven by emotion and occasionally subconscious stress, typically without impairing daily life.
The primary differences between maladaptive daydreaming and musical escapism lie in the nature of the activity, degree of control, and individual impact. Maladaptive daydreaming involves uncontrollable and immersive fantasy, leading to significant functional impairment and distress, whereas musical escapism is a controlled activity that generally influences and is influenced by emotional well-being, and can have both positive and negative psychological effects.
See also
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Absorption (psychology)
Absorption is a disposition or personality trait in which a person becomes absorbed in their mental imagery, particularly fantasy. This trait thus correlates highly with a fantasy prone personality. The original research on absorption was by Dutc ...
*
Dissociation (psychology)
Dissociation is a concept which concerns a wide array of experiences, ranging from a mild emotional detachment from the immediate surroundings, to a more severe disconnection from physical and emotional experiences. The major characteristic o ...
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Escapism (disambiguation)
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Fantasy-prone personality
Fantasy-prone personality (FPP) is a disposition or personality trait in which a person experiences a lifelong, extensive, and deep involvement in fantasy. This disposition is an attempt, at least in part, to better describe "overactive imagination ...
*
Musicology
Musicology is the academic, research-based study of music, as opposed to musical composition or performance. Musicology research combines and intersects with many fields, including psychology, sociology, acoustics, neurology, natural sciences, ...
References
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Cognitive psychology
Human activities
Music psychology
Musicology
Psychological concepts
Psychology
Daydreaming