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1 Student Name Professor’s Name PSY Contitive Psychology Due Date

Discussion Reply The Invisible Gorilla Chapter 6

Thank you for your thoughts on chapter 6 of The Invisible Gorilla. As a mother of four (ages 21, 18, 16, and 13), I am well aware of the Mozart Effect. However, I did not hear that it had been debunked or that lawsuits had been filed in connection with it. I guess media attention surrounding the Mozart Effect scandal occurred when I had four young children at home, while working and attending night classes. But I digress. I wanted to share my own experience playing classical music for my children when they were in utero, newborns, or toddlers. As a first-time mom, I did everything the books suggested for my first pregnancy, including playing classical music for my growing belly. Since all four of my children were born exactly two and a half years apart, I always had a toddler to deal with after the first pregnancy. The last thing I had time for was to put headphones on my baby bumps. I did, however, sing to my belly constantly. When they were born, I played them soft classical music on repeat as they slept. For at least the first three years of their lives, it was part of our sleep time routine.

It is safe to say that there are no drastic differences in any of my children's intelligence -- as babies, children, or teenagers. However, my first child (the one I strapped headphones to my pregnant belly and played classical music for his unborn ears) is now 21 years old and is in the Air Force. He did so well on his ASVAB and another test that they wouldn't let him choose the job he wanted (he wanted to be an airplane mechanic). The "higher ups" said that maybe one person every four years is qualified for the job they assigned him (I'm not allowed to say exactly

2 what he does for security reasons). Additionally, he was the only one of my babies who reached every milestone early. The boy crawled early, walked early, talked early, read early, and built even before he was five. All three of my other children are exceptionally smart, particularly in math. Last May, my 18-year-old daughter graduated with high honors as valedictorian. Currently, she is a freshman here at UM and made the president's list last semester. Does their intelligence come from listening to classical music in their sleep? It's hard to say.

Even though none of them had their IQs tested, they always scored well above grade level on their standardized tests. In any case, keep in mind that IQ tests and standardized tests aren't the only ways of assessing intelligence. Any activity that strengthens all of our brain's parts is beneficial in my experience and based on what I've read. I personally believe that classical music, or music of any genre, stimulates the brain and encourages healthy brain function. It strengthens the brain and makes certain parts of the brain work more efficiently. Even though The Mozart Effect has been debunked in psychological circles, I encourage you to listen to classical music when you are pregnant. Play your favorite playlist or just sing along to your favorite song, and continue to expose the baby to music when he or she arrives. The baby's IQ might not increase, but it won't decrease either.

Reference Chabris, C., & Simons, D. (2011). Weather Forecaster or Hedge Fund Manager. In The Invisible Gorilla and Other Ways our Intuitions Deceive Us. Harmony/Rodale....