Sad songs can boost your mood

Japanese scientists have found the answer to the question why people are sometimes drawn to the "tearful" sentimental melodies.

Au Kawakami, together with colleagues from the University of Tokyo and the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) gathered a group of the 44 volunteers, among whom were professional musicians and people who are not versed in music. Volunteers were asked to assess changes in their emotional state while listening to two pieces of sad (nocturne "Separation" in F minor Glinka and Studies «Sur Mer» in G Minor Blumenfeld F.) and a positive (fragment concert Enrique Granados in G major).

As it turned out, sad, "tragic" works aroused the audience mixed feelings: on the one hand, the participants spoke of the negative experiences that provoked the music, but on the other hand pointed out that the "bright sadness" touches some chord in their hearts, whereupon I like to listen to the melody again and again.

According to the leaders of the study, negative impressions received by means of music or, for example, painting, actually contribute to the improvement of mood, as it does not carry any real threat - it helps people to rethink the negative emotions and learn to manage them. "Sad" pieces of music may also recall the romantic feelings, lost in happy memories of which a person begins to identify them with a particular sequence of notes.

Earlier employees Missouri University in his research came to opposite conclusions: the need to lift the mood to listen to the positive composition, however, it works only when a person consciously wants to cheer themselves through songs. If the product accidentally heard, for example, on the radio, it is unlikely to give a tangible positive effect.

via factroom.ru