Here’s Why Taylor Swift’s Song ‘Karma’ Could Have a Significant Impact on Your Mental Health
Unveiling the Truth Behind Taylor Swift’s Billboard Song Through the Lens of Traditional Religious and Psychological Studies
You have probably heard about “Karma” even if you aren’t a Swiftie. From Taylor Swift’s release of the song in 2022 to her recent nomination for Best Song at “The Global Awards 2024,” she has sparked discussions about her belief in karma, shedding light on the profound influence of Eastern religions on Western spirituality.
In a survey of 2000 Americans, nine out of ten believe in karma, a Buddhist concept that views one’s behaviors as determinants of future conditions, whether good or bad. In the song, Swift presents her belief in karma, suggesting that her current relationship results from her good karma and that those who offended her in the past will face punishment from the universe.
Engaging in good deeds with the expectation of good things in return sounds fair, but how do Swift’s karma beliefs impact people’s mental health?
“You cannot be forgiven for the bad intentions that you’ve done,” said Hanna Gould, a cultural anthropologist studying death, Buddhism, and material culture in Australia and Asia. She analyzed Swift’s belief that the universe will punish those mistreating her if she continues to be good, as reflected in her lyrics:
“Of everyone you burned just to get there, it’s coming back around.”
Therefore, despite Swift’s intention to pursue karma, which focuses on gaining good credit, her intention to punish others who hurt her is evident. The difference is that she didn’t seek revenge through physical actions but pursued it indirectly in the spiritual realm.
Read More: Will Taylor Swift Lead Her Swifties To Hell?
Many believe Swift might have one of her revenge done already. Even though Swift didn’t give a statement, based on the release date of ‘Karma,’ she could have implied that Kanye West’s divorce was his bad karma for interrupting her acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
However, achieving such dramatic “revenge” might not lead Swift to healing or better mental health.
According to a study by the American Psychological Association, forgiveness is more effective at rehumanizing oneself than revenge. The study also suggests that forgiveness can aid in the recovery process, leading to the restoration of self-humanity, including less self-harm, a greater sense of belonging to the human community, and a greater emphasis on one’s moral identity. Karina Schumann, one of the research's lead authors, also mentioned that revenge actions could violate moral values, leading people to experience revenge as uncivilized, destructive, or antisocial behavior.
Therefore, these studies give us another perspective on Swift’s belief in karma. It seems there are negative messages hidden behind the rhythm that many might not notice. We might raise an insightful question to the world —
Does Taylor Swift’s music truly have a positive impact on generations when psychological studies could argue that her beliefs could be harmful to mental health?
