La influencia de las canciones en el proceso de identificación del adolescente.

Abstract

This research explored the influence of songs on the adolescent identification process, highlighting its importance in contributing to a deeper understanding of how music affects young people’s identity. It fills a gap in the literature by examining this phenomenon from a psychodynamic perspective, grounded in Carl Jung’s theory. The study sought to identify the characteristics of songs that influence the identification process, describing the structure of this process from an analytical psychology perspective and analyzing how adolescents subjectively interpret lyrics as a reflection of their own unconscious. The study employed qualitative methods, encompassing interpretive and descriptive approaches. This research included a literature review, a focus group, and semi-structured interviews with six participants. The results indicated that lyrics, rhythm, and the singer’s performance were used to facilitate emotional connections and evoke memories. Furthermore, the manifestation of the social mask, the Persona, the hidden aspects, the Shadow, the projections of admired qualities, the Anima/Animus, and the search for authenticity, the Self, materialized through music and activities such as dance and sports competitions. The songs helped teenagers process and express their feelings, as well as cope with difficult experiences, including grief and disappointment. They acted as catalysts for self-awareness and emotional regulation, even helping them prepare for future losses. In short, music played a psychological role in the consolidation of adolescent identity.