Continuing on from the last blog I now want to explore another theory to understand how we interact with others, especially in the world of social media and musicking.
Self-discrepancy theory provides a valuable lens for understanding how our mental health can be affected by the dividing factors between different aspects of our self. According to this theory, individuals possess three domains of self: the actual self (who we believe we are), the ideal self (who we wish to be), and the ought self (who we feel obligated to be, based on external expectations). Discrepancies between these selves can lead to emotional discomfort and mental health challenges, especially in the volatile and exposed world of the music industry.
For us musicians, these discrepancies can be particularly pronounced due to the nature of our profession. For example, a musician’s actual self may include our realistic abilities and current achievements, while the ideal self may reflect aspirations of becoming a world-renowned artist or achieving a certain level of technical mastery. When there is a significant gap between the actual and ideal self, we may experience feelings of inadequacy, frustration, or low self-esteem. These emotions can lead to anxiety, (particularly performance anxiety), as we can often fear we will not meet the high standards being set.
Additionally, the ought self is shaped by societal, industry, and audience expectations. Us musicians are often under pressure to perform flawlessly, maintain a certain public image, and meet the expectations of fans, record labels, or critics. A large discrepancy between the actual self and the ought self can again result in feelings of guilt or anxiety. For example, if a musician feels they are not living up to the expectations of their audience or industry standards, this can create stress, self-doubt, and a deep sense of failure.
Our levels of self-discrepancy can also impact our emotional well-being depending on how well we cope with these gaps and splits of self. For example, musicians who are perfectionists or highly self-critical may struggle more intensely with the emotional fallout of these discrepancies. Constantly comparing their actual self to an idealised version or the expectations of others can lead to depression, burnout or just feeling shit about ourselves. Conversely, research suggests that musicians who are able to accept personal imperfections or reframe their self-discrepancies as opportunities for growth may experience more resilience and better mental health outcomes.
Ultimately, self-discrepancies can have both positive and negative effects on musicians’ mental health. While small gaps between the actual, ideal, and ought selves can motivate personal growth and artistic development, large or persistent discrepancies can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. How we as musicians navigate these discrepancies plays an important role in our overall well-being. One key factor of developing our abilities to navigate these struggles is making sure we stay connected to others that understand our world: AKA, joining a peer group (preferably a clinically sound one) such as one of the Tonic Rider Peer Support Groups.
Adam Ficek hosts a monthly show 'Tonic Music' on Totally Wired Radio, where he talks to various guests about music and mental health. You can listen again to any of the previous show on the Tonic Music Mixcloud page.
