Singing Is Contagious: Try This Fun Psychological Experiment

Ever wanted to mind-control your family memeber or friend using the power of singing? Wether you're a good or bad singer, we all have the magical ability to get someone hooked on a catchy song. But be careful... this power can sometimes backfire and you could be the one left with the song stuck in your head for all of eternity!!!!

There is no denying that singing in the comfort of your own home to a catchy song is a lot of fun, regardless of how good or bad you are. Whether it's your favorite song, one you have just discovered, or a song you completely hate but it's just too catchy to resist, we find ourselves humming and sharing it with the whole family to hear. Sometimes I'm not even conscious of myself doing it. I could be on my phone, scavenging through the fridge, or watching T.V, and that one song that's been in the back of my head will make it's way out of my mouth. But what happens when the people around us pick up on what we are singing?

Being a terrible singer myself (believe me I've been told), I never thought my mundane voice could have a domino effect on the people around me, causing them to sing that same song moments later. I figured this contagious effect of singing had to develop from hearing the song from the actual artist on the radio. Wrong. Just 20 minutes after singing Katy Perry's, Firework, I heard my sister singing it in the other room. This was hilarious and very interesting all at the same time, never truly realizing how contagious singing really is. After acknowledging this interesting observation, I tested it again, just to be sure it wasn't just a coincidence.

I proceeded to chug my water, soften my lips, and prepare my vocal cords for lift off, using Miley Cyrus's catchy song, Wrecking Ball, as my rocket fuel. With my sister in the other room doing homework and my mother and father in the kitchen, I paced up and down the hallway singing my heart out, "I CAME IN LIKE A WRECKING BALLLLLL". I sang on and off for about 10 minutes, just enough to draw their attention and to ensure they registered the song.

It was now time to sit back, relax, and listen to my test subjects from a distance! 10 minutes go by, now 20 minutes. No singing yet to be heard from anyone but wait a second... is that humming I hear? Could it be my sister humming the melody to Wrecking Ball? I began to move towards the sound, inching just a little closer to conclude what I was hearing. But there was no need to becuase just as I was getting closer to the noise, she burst out singing the chorus to the song and louder each minute after that! The experiement was successful, and proved that we have the power to make singing contagious, regardless of how good or bad we are!

Overall, this was such a fun experiment to try. The power of music and singing is truly contagious. It also sheds light on how much influence our behviours and day-to-day tendencies have on the people around us, and how little we actually pay attention to their effects. Now, I encourage you to try this but please don't be discouraged when your family member or friend don't start singing right away. Much like my father, he didn't start singing the song until the morning after while he was making some eggs for breakfast. While others, may not even sing at all. But remember, whether they are singing the song in their head, when they're alone in the shower, or not thinking of it at all just yet, the contagious power of singing is stuck deep down inside of their mind somewhere, just waiting to come out!