Research shows that listening to sad music can actually evoke positive emotions and a sense of peace in the listener.
Do you often find yourself listening to a sad song multiple times even when you are feeling happy?
Many of us have experienced this feeling, as music has a profoundly strong influence on our emotions. Below are some researched reasons explaining why we enjoy listening to sad music:
Sad Music Brings Us Peace
A study published in the journal PLOS One found that listening to sad melodies can indeed evoke positive feelings such as tranquility for the listener.
Researchers also discovered that individuals who listen to sad music tend to be more empathetic because they connect with the artist’s sorrow. This may explain why we often gravitate towards sad music after a breakup.
Sad music can stimulate hormones related to pain relief.
Sad Music Can Also Release Hormones in the Brain, Helping Us Cope with Unpleasant Experiences
Music is known to be a conduit for dopamine, which creates feelings of happiness. This can occur whether the music is upbeat or melancholic. Some experts explain that sad music can stimulate a hormone called prolactin, which is particularly related to pain relief.
According to Science Alert: “The body is preparing to cope with a painful event, and when that event does not occur, the body is left with a pleasant mix of opiates.”
Sad Music Makes Us Cry, Which Can Be Healing
Sometimes, music can bring us to tears. This reaction mainly stems from human behavior and can sometimes result in a refreshing feeling.
Studies show that crying positively can improve our mood. Other research has found that after 90 minutes of crying, participants felt better overall.
Sad Music Encourages Self-Reflection
One study indicated that listening to sad music leads to introspective thoughts.
Researchers examined MRI images of individuals listening to sad music compared to when they listened to happy tunes. The experiments showed that these individuals often tended to turn their minds inward, with spontaneous thoughts relating to themselves and aspects of their lives.
Our brains often develop a connection with specific songs.
We easily connect with things that evoke a personal feeling, and music is certainly no exception. In Taylor Swift’s album “Red (Taylor’s Version)”, many fans grew up with the original version and now feel a deep connection with the “covers.”
Elizabeth Margulis, author of “On Repeat: How Music Plays the Mind”, shared with Mic that: “Listening to a song repeatedly helps us visualize and sing along with the lyrics. The desire to share music can arise. When sharing musical experiences, the boundary between oneself and the music seems to dissolve.”
In other words, we relate, we listen, and that cycle repeats. Our brains cannot stop thinking about it.
