Why is sad music enjoyable?

By Irada Yunusova

People typically agree that sad music makes them sad, and most people don't like feeling sad. So why do we listen to sad music? Since sadness is regarded as an unpleasant emotion, it is logical to conclude that we would not listen to music that only evoked such feelings. A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that sad music may actually evoke positive emotions, causing people to enjoy listening to sad music.

In a study conducted with 44 volunteers, including musicians and non-specialists, individuals listened to two pieces of sad music and one piece of happy music. The volunteers then rated their perception of the music and their own emotional state. The researchers found that the participants of the study tended to report sad music as more tragic, less romantic, and less blithe than they themselves felt while they listened to it. Sad music induced sad and romantic emotion, regardless of whether or not the participant was regarded as a musician.

Researchers explained that sadness experienced through music can actually feel pleasant, possibly because it does not actually threaten our safety unlike sadness caused by most daily experiences. People can use music to deal with their negative emotions from their daily lives in a harmless way. People are able to alleviate negative emotion from daily life through music, possibly bringing about positive emotions that make sad music enjoyable.

References: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130711135459.htm