Musical Escapism

This paper introduces the concept of musical escapism as a distinct psychological phenomenon characterized by immersive, music-induced daydreaming. It presents a comprehensive definition and explores the historical roots, psychological foundations, and neurological mechanisms of this condition, while examining how technological advancements, particularly in personal music devices and streaming services, have amplified the phenomenon. It investigates the impact of global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, on the prevalence and intensity of musical escapism. The paper introduces the Five-Dimension Model of Musical Escapism (FDME), a novel theoretical model that conceptualizes musical escapism across cognitive, emotional, neurological, contextual, and motivational dimensions. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the research analyzes the implications of musical escapism for mental health, creativity, and social behavior. The findings suggest that musical escapism is a complex, adaptive function with significant potential for both psychological benefit and risk, contingent on its application.