Noise Annoyance

Though it pales in comparison to the health effects noted above, noise pollution constitutes a significant factor of annoyance and distraction in modern artificial environments:

1. The meaning listeners attribute to the sound influences annoyance, so that, if listeners dislike the noise content, they are annoyed. What is music to one is noise to another.
2. If the sound causes activity interference, noise is more likely to annoy (for example, sleep disturbance)
3. If listeners feel they can control the noise source, the less likely the noise will be annoying.
4. If listeners believe that the noise is subject to third party control, including police, but control has failed, they are more annoyed.
5. The inherent unpleasantness of the sound causes annoyance.
6. Contextual sound. If the sound is appropriate for the activity it is in context. If one is at a race track the noise is in context and the psychological effects are absent. If one is at an outdoor picnic the race track noise will produce adverse psychological and physical effects.