Listening to sad music can help lift moods and make music lovers feel happier, new research from scientists in Berlin claims.
A study by Liila Taruffi and Stefan Koelsch of the Free University of Berlin revealed that listening to supposedly sad music can provoke a range of complex, yet usually positive emotions.
These include nostalgia, peacefulness, tenderness, transcendence, and wonder and can help regulate negative emotion and mood.
According to the pair, ‘the present study demonstrates that for many individuals, listening to sad music can actually lead to beneficial emotional effects.
‘The findings (using two large internet samples of participants) reveal sad music’s potential for regulating negative moods and emotions as well as for providing consolation. In particular, the consolatory and comforting effects are likely to be unique features of sad music, as suggested by the comparison between the uses and functions of listening to sad versus happy music’.
Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata was a favourite sad song among respondents in the study.
Visit the Plos One website to find out more about the research.
A study by Liila Taruffi and Stefan Koelsch of the Free University of Berlin revealed that listening to supposedly sad music can provoke a range of complex, yet usually positive emotions.
These include nostalgia, peacefulness, tenderness, transcendence, and wonder and can help regulate negative emotion and mood.
According to the pair, ‘the present study demonstrates that for many individuals, listening to sad music can actually lead to beneficial emotional effects.
‘The findings (using two large internet samples of participants) reveal sad music’s potential for regulating negative moods and emotions as well as for providing consolation. In particular, the consolatory and comforting effects are likely to be unique features of sad music, as suggested by the comparison between the uses and functions of listening to sad versus happy music’.
Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata was a favourite sad song among respondents in the study.
Visit the Plos One website to find out more about the research.
