Music as an aid in the development of the social self

The development of the social self has been a topic of interest to developmental psychologists for some time. With the recent emphasis placed on the effect of the nuclear family and its increasing paucity, researchers have been even more pressed to develop alternate means to aid in the social effects of family and subsequently enhance a child's assertion of independence. In our paper we explore some of the possible ways by which developmental learning occurs, most notably by implicit or unconscious acquisition. We further provide some historical background explaining the emergence of this unconscious learning. Once we understand the process by which this learning occurs and the historical context in which it operates we can put forth our hypothesis. We suggest that an effective way of aiding or supplementing the role of the family is by providing a theoretical family unit. Specifically we propose that participation in musical or band related activities aids in the emergence of adolescence independence and a healthy self concept.