Everett Thayer Gaston (July 4, 1901 – 1970) was a
psychologist
A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and interpretation of how indi ...
active in the 1940s–1960s who helped develop
music therapy in the United States, describing the qualities of musical expression that could be therapeutic. He worked at the
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...
, as Professor of Music Education and Director of Music Therapy. He was named to the Music Educators Hall of Fame in 1986.
Values
He outlined three principles (values) that are a primary source of direction for the use of music in therapy:
# The establishment or re-establishment of
interpersonal relationships
The concept of interpersonal relationship involves social associations, connections, or affiliations between two or more people. Interpersonal relationships vary in their degree of intimacy or self-disclosure, but also in their duration, in t ...
.
#The bringing about of
self-esteem
Self-esteem is confidence in one's own worth or abilities. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs about oneself (for example, "I am loved", "I am worthy") as well as emotional states, such as triumph, despair, pride, and shame. Smith and Mackie (2007) d ...
through
self-actualization
Self-actualization, in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, is the highest level of psychological development, where personal potential is fully realized after basic bodily and ego needs have been fulfilled.
Self-actualization was coined by the organism ...
.
#The utilization of the unique potential of rhythm to energize and bring order.
The values are further explained in Gaston's book "Music in Therapy".
Views
*Music is a means of
nonverbal communication deriving potency from its wordless meaning.
*Music is the most adaptable of the arts being utilized with individuals, groups, and in various locations.
*Through participation or listening, music may lessen feelings of loneliness.
*Music elicits moods derived from emotions and has the capability of communicating one's good feeling for another.
*Music can dissolve fears of closeness because its nonverbal nature allows an intimacy that is nonthreatening.
*Music, in most cases, is sound without associated threat.
*The shared musical experience can be a form of structured reality upon which the therapist and the patient can form a relationship with some confidence.
*Musical experiences possess an intimacy because listeners and performers derive their own responses from each musical experience.
*Preparation and performance of music can bring about a feeling of accomplishment and gratification.
[Gaston, E. Thayer (1968/95): Man and Music. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy]
References
1901 births
1970 deaths
Music therapists
American music educators
20th-century American psychologists
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