Sound in Video is Mind Control

The Secret Mind Control Device You Didn’t Know You Loved: How Sound Influences Mood

Imagine you’re watching a horror movie. The scene is silent. The monster creeps toward the unsuspecting victim. Still silent. No suspenseful music, no eerie sound effects—just awkward, dead air. Instead of gripping your seat in terror, you’re wondering if your speakers are broken. That’s the power of sound. It can make you feel fear, joy, sadness, or even make you buy things you don’t need. Sound in videos is basically legal mind control, and we love it.

Let’s break down how it works and why your favorite playlist is actually manipulating you more than your childhood best friend convincing you to eat glue.

Music: The Ultimate Emotional Puppet Master

First, let’s talk about music. Science has confirmed what every teenager who ever cried to a sad song already knew—music directly affects our emotions. Research by Juslin and Sloboda (2010) found that music triggers physiological responses such as heart rate changes, chills, and even tears. That’s why listening to Adele after a breakup feels like emotional CPR. Likewise, the reason you feel like you can conquer the world when “Eye of the Tiger” plays is that triumphant anthems stimulate dopamine release and increase motivation.

Tempo plays a huge role. Fast beats make us feel energized, while slow melodies relax us. There’s a reason why gyms blast high-BPM dance music instead of lullabies—no one would survive leg day to the sound of ocean waves. A study by Fritz et al. (2013) even found that listening to fast-paced music can improve physical performance, which explains why Rocky didn’t train to soft jazz. On the flip side, slow-tempo classical music has been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce stress, which is why spas and waiting rooms often play it. Ever wonder why your road rage magically disappears when listening to lo-fi beats? Science, my friend.

The Horror of Dissonance: Why Creepy Sounds in Videos Make You Run

Then there’s the horror of dissonance. Ever wonder why the Psycho shower scene music still haunts your dreams? That’s because dissonant sound in videos is unexpected and trigger our brain’s danger alarms. Research by Blumstein et al. (2010) suggests that harsh, screeching sounds mimic animal distress calls, making us instinctively uneasy. That violin stab? Basically the sound equivalent of a saber-toothed tiger roaring in your face. This is also why baby cries and car alarms are so impossible to ignore—our brains are wired to detect distress signals and respond accordingly.

This also explains why hearing Jaws’ theme immediately makes you fear large bodies of water, even if you’re in a bathtub. Spielberg didn’t need to show you the shark every second; he just had to let John Williams’ two-note dread-inducing score do all the work. You could be at a pool party and still get nervous when someone plays that ominous “dun-dun, dun-dun.”

Background Noise: The Sneaky Marketing Trick

Supermarkets and malls strategically play soft, slow music to keep you relaxed (and shopping longer). Meanwhile, fast food restaurants play upbeat tunes to subtly encourage you to eat and leave. Ever notice how elevator music makes you want to stare into the void? That’s because it’s designed to be inoffensive, creating a bland, neutral mood that prevents riots over long wait times. Additionally, casinos pump in music with an energetic yet non-intrusive vibe to keep gamblers engaged, making them more likely to stay and spend money.

Luxury stores, on the other hand, use classical music because studies show it makes customers feel more sophisticated and, therefore, more likely to buy overpriced handbags they don’t need but suddenly must have (North et al., 1999). Meanwhile, grocery stores have mastered the art of playing nostalgic 80s and 90s hits because they know you’ll be too busy humming along to realize you just spent $10 on artisanal water.

ASMR: The Internet’s Favorite Tingly Weirdness

And then we have ASMR—the internet’s weirdest obsession. Whispering, tapping, and oddly specific noises (like the sound of someone folding towels) trigger a tingling, relaxing sensation in some people. A study by Poerio et al. (2018) found that ASMR can reduce stress and even improve mood. So yes, someone whispering into a microphone about imaginary spa treatments might actually be a scientifically-backed form of relaxation. Similarly, nature sounds—like rain or ocean waves—have been found to improve sleep quality, reduce anxiety, and enhance focus.

Some people love ASMR; others think it sounds like a serial killer whispering right before they strike. Regardless, it’s proof that sound has an almost magical ability to influence our mental state in ways we never expected.

The Sound of Money: Why Expensive Restaurants Play Beethoven

Let’s not forget how sound plays into marketing. Ever walked into a fancy boutique and noticed the slow, elegant classical music playing? That’s because studies have shown that playing sophisticated music in high-end stores makes customers more likely to purchase expensive items (North et al., 1999). Meanwhile, restaurants that play classical music rather than pop tend to see higher spending per customer, as the refined ambiance encourages indulgence. You walked in for a $10 pasta dish and suddenly find yourself justifying a $60 wine pairing because Mozart told you to.

Conclusion: Sound Is Playing You (And You Love It)

In conclusion, Sound in videos is an emotional puppet master. It can make you run faster, cry harder, spend more money, or feel like a horror movie victim. Next time you find yourself getting emotional over a song, jumping at a suspenseful movie moment, or accidentally spending an extra hour in a store because of soothing background music, just remember: sound is playing you. And you love it.

References:

Juslin, P. N., & Sloboda, J. A. (2010). Handbook of Music and Emotion: Theory, Research, Applications. Oxford University Press.
Fritz, T., Hardikar, S., Demoucron, M., Niessen, M., Demey, M., Giot, O., … & Leman, M. (2013). Musical agency reduces perceived exertion during strenuous physical performance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(44), 17784-17789.
Blumstein, D. T., Davitian, R., & Kaye, P. D. (2010). Do film soundtracks contain nonlinearity? Biology Letters, 6(6), 751-754.
Poerio, G. L., Blakey, E., Hostler, T. J., & Veltri, T. (2018). More than a feeling: Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is characterized by reliable changes in affect and physiology. PloS one, 13(6), e0196645.
North, A. C., Hargreaves, D. J., & McKendrick, J. (1999). The influence of in-store music on wine selections. Journal of Applied Psychology, 84(2), 271-276.