The Mozart Effect and Infant Intelligence - 1408 Words

In modern society intelligence is highly competitive and subject to scrutiny; therefore, it is understandable that a child’s intelligence is a primary concern for many parents. The Mozart effect, popularised in the 1990s, resulted in many parents believing that simply exposing their child to music composed by Mozart would improve their intelligence (Campbell, 1997). The claim was founded by research published in the journal Nature, which suggested that spatial reasoning could be temporarily enhanced by listening to one of Mozart’s compositions for ten minutes (Rauscher, Shaw Ky, 1993). It will be argued that there is not sufficient evidence to support the claim that playing Mozart to babies will increase their intelligence. Firstly, the†¦show more content†¦A study intending to emulate the results expressed in the original study was performed on preschool aged children exposing them to similar variables as those in the original study (Hui, 2007). The study sho wed no empirical evidence that listening to Mozart is more beneficial for children than ulterior conditions (Hui, 2007). This disproves the belief that listening to Mozart makes a child smarter also making the generalization from the Rauscher et al (1993) inconclusive. There are also a number of other factors that have been overlooked when comparing the finding of the original study to the Mozart effect in children. Another discerning factor expressed in the original study was the test used to assess intelligence between the participants. The portion of the Stanford-Binet test used in the original study focuses on one aspect of intelligence, namely, spatial reasoning (Rauscher et al, 1993). Therefore, it would be invalid to assume that high scores on this specific test delineate an increase in overall general intelligence. The test itself is also bias as specific cultures outperform others, as cultural environment has an influence on intelligence, which may lead to deficits in the results found (Weinberg, 1989). Sternberg (2004) found that IQ tests are effective at predicting academic success in western individuals but are not conclusive measures of overall intelligence or ability to succeed. Gardner (1999) also proposed that IQ test alsoShow MoreRelatedDoes Playing Mozart to Babies Make Them Smarter? Essay1374 Words   |  6 PagesThe Mozart Effect Resource Centre website, music educator Don Campbell made the claim that â€Å"classical music has a powerful effect on the intellectual and creative development of children from the very youngest of ages.† (Campbell, n.d.). To critically evaluate this claim a number of sources have been analysed. Through this analysis it was found that the claim cannot be supported by reliable empirical research and that classical music only produces short-term cognitive enhancement. This effect canRead More Musics Effect on Intelligence Essay1194 Words   |  5 PagesMusics Effect on Intelligence Music is said to affect the intellect of humans in several different ways. Specifically, it is said to affect infants more than any other age group. Music can improve learning skills, test taking skills, concentration, heartbeat, and relaxation. Music has been proven to offer several benefits for infants, young children, young adults, as well as for adults. With all of this in mind, how can one connect music with intellect? 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Universities have concluded that a specific part of our brain had a major role that can progress to become intellectual when exposed to classical music, and later on, was exposed to another conclusion, that classical music, only has rapid effect in specific amount of time. Professors and theorists dispute with disagreement that listening to classical music is uncertain and does not necessarily make people smarter. Listening to other music other than classical, however, was proven to be more