Many things affect our moods in the same manner these moods have an impact on the decisions we make. Take, for example, music.
We tend to avoid sad songs since we believe they trigger very unpleasant and equally melancholic emotions and memories. Meanwhile, when we're feeling down such as after a breakup or a promising deal gone wrong, we surround ourselves with blues and slow jazz.
A new study, however, points out that sad music doesn't have to mean pitiful feelings. In fact, it works the opposite way-that is, it makes you happy.
Two researchers from Berlin's Free University surveyed more than 650 people around the world in an effort to determine why many people appreciate and like sad music.
Stefan Koelsch and Liila Taruffi wrote the "Paradox of Music-invoked Sadness: An Online Survey," which was later published in PLOS ONE on Monday, October 20.
Based on their analysis, sadness invoked by music provides positive benefits such as regulation of emotion, imagination, and empathy.
Most of the respondents to the survey shared that when they listen to sad music, they don't immediately think about negative emotions but rather they remember things of the past, a point in place and time where they were happy and feel peaceful and content.
Sad music also activates imagination, which allows the listener to develop ways and means to beat the sadness. Moreover, it regulates your mood by helping you become aware of the state of your being.
It teaches you to empathize, especially to yourself, and it inspires others to seek social interaction.
Listening to sad music may even be helpful to people who are described or diagnosed as emotionally unstable, and the researchers suggest a sad music therapy for them to help in mood regulation.
Listening to sad music may be good for your mind and body after all, so you better include lonely tracks in your playlist.
