The Cognitive Processing of Emotionally Lyrics on You’re Your Own, Kid by Tylor Swift’s Song : A Psycholinguistic Study

  • Kanza Ayomi Negara Mahasiswa
Keywords: Psycholinguistics, Emotional Lyrics, Taylor Swift, Cognitive Processing, Music Therapy

Abstract

This study explores the cognitive processing of emotionally charged lyrics in Taylor Swift’s song You're On Your Own, Kid through a psycholinguistic lens. The research investigates how the lyrics evoke autobiographical memories, support emotional reflection, and influence listeners’ psychological states. Using qualitative analysis, the study reveals that Swift’s narrative lyrics laden with metaphors, personal struggles, and themes of independence trigger deep emotional evaluation and cognitive engagement. The emotional resonance of the song is further enhanced by social media responses, where listeners publicly share their reflections. These findings suggest that popular music can function not only as entertainment but also as a therapeutic and educational tool, fostering self-awareness and social bonding through shared experiences. The study contributes to the understanding of music’s role in psycholinguistic processing and emotional development, particularly among adolescents and young adults. 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Afolayan, A. (1971). Contrastive Linguistics and the Teaching of English as a Second or Foreign Language. ELT Journal, XXV(3), 220–229. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/XXV.3.220

Ferdinan, A. H., Osmond, A. B., & Setianingsih, C. (2018). Emotion classification in song lyrics Chappell, M. C. (2024). The year of the girl: Nostalgia and girlhood portrayed in the music of Taylor Swift (Doctoral dissertation). University of North Carolina. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. https://search.proquest.com/openview/ef9aecdc7b9d01d1efa76ffbc87d4dea/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y

using K-nearest neighbor method. CORE Journal, 5, 6187-6194. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/299924955.pdf

Fitriani, L., & Muassomah, M. (2021). GENDER INEQUALITY WITHIN A FAMILY: THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN’S NOVEL IN SOCIAL MEDIA. LiNGUA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa Dan Sastra, 16(1), 111–124. https://doi.org/10.18860/ling.v16i1.10681

Rahman, F., Sarno, R., & Fatichah, C. (2018). Music emotion classification based on lyrics-audio using corpus-based emotion. International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE), 8(3), 1720-1730. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijece.v8i3.pp1720-1730

Waliulu, H., Sok, V., & Rith, V. (n.d.). The Role of Body Language in Islamic Public Speaking to Influence Audiences in the Digital Era.

using K-nearest neighbor method. CORE Journal, 5, 6187-6194. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/299924955.pdf

Juslin, P. N., & Sloboda, J. A. (2001). Emotional responses to music: The need to consider underlying mechanisms. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 24(5), 849-850. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X01000111

PlumX Metrics

Published
2025-09-08
How to Cite
Negara, K. (2025). The Cognitive Processing of Emotionally Lyrics on You’re Your Own, Kid by Tylor Swift’s Song : A Psycholinguistic Study. Maliki Interdisciplinary Journal, 3(9), 814-818. Retrieved from https://urj.uin-malang.ac.id/index.php/mij/article/view/17425
Section
Articles