Listening to Sad Music Actually Make Someone Happier, Is It True?
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Jakarta – Everyone must have experiences a sad moment in life that makes them cry or worse, have trouble sleeping. This moment is usually filled with listening to sad songs that represent the feelings that make the tears flow endlessly.
But according to a study, listening to sad music when you're feeling down does not make you feel worse but actually improves your mood.
The study, carried out by scientists Liila Taruffi and Stefan Koelsch from the Free University of Berlin, asked participants to name the emotions they have experienced when listening to sad music from a given list of feelings, which includes ‘nostalgia’, ‘sadness’, ‘wonder’ and ‘power’.
Ilustrasi mendengarkan musik.
- Freepik/freepik
They were instructed to complete the survey individually and, interestingly, in a quiet environment without listening to any music, as quoted on Classical music site.
The most common feeling described was nostalgia, followed by peacefulness and tenderness. These feelings belong to the emotional category sublime rather than uneas, which is the group that 'sadness' is placed in.
Meanwhile, according to Dr Imran Noorani as a consultant psychologist at Child Development Center Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, to understand if sad songs can actually make us happy.
"Yes, sad songs can instill a sense of happiness or relief in a person. This phenomenon is known as the paradox of the sad song," he remarked, as quoted Healthshots site.
Dr Noorani stated that there are many ways in which sad songs can make someone feel better.
First, catharsis, where listening to sad music can be a form of emotional release. It allows the listener to process and express their own sadness in a controlled environment.
This can lead to a sense of relief and even a feeling of lightness afterwards.
Ilustrasi galau.
- http://www.i2harmony.info
Sad music often contain lyrics and melodies that resonate with the experiences and emotions of the listener. This sense of understanding and connection can lead to feelings of comfort and, in turn, a shift towards a more positive emotional state.
Some people find beauty in sad music, appreciating the artistry and emotional depth involved in its creation. This aesthetic appreciation can evoke a sense of pleasure or contentment.
According to Dr Imran Noorani, there is also a concept called tragic pleasure or transtendence, where people find a certain pleasure or beauty in experiencing sadness from a safe distance, knowing that it's a temporary and controlled emotional experience.
Experiencing grief through music can contribute to a wider range of emotions and depth of experience.
This increased emotional complexity can result in a greater sense of overall satisfaction and well-being.
In addition, music therapy offers a range of benefits in the physical, emotional and cognitive areas.
There are several benefits of listening to music and why sad songs can be good therapy.
Firstly, music helps with the expression and regulation of emotions. Music provides a non-verbal means of expressing and processing emotions.
Music also provides stress reduction and relaxation as listening to or creating music can trigger a relaxation response, reducing stress and anxiety levels.
Music can also stimulate the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and endorphins, thereby enhancing mood and pleasure. Then, there is an improvement in cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving.
This can also benefit individuals with neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
In addition, music can also be used to support physical rehabilitation efforts. The rhythmic elements in music can help with movement coordination and motor skills.
Group music activities can also improve social interaction, cooperation and communication skills. This is particularly valuable for individuals who may experience difficulties in social interaction.
Not only that, but successfully creating or performing music can boost a person's self-esteem and confidence. Music therapy has also been shown to reduce pain perception and the need for painkillers in some individuals.
Furthermore, music therapy provides an avenue for creative expression, allowing individuals to explore and develop their artistic abilities.
Furthermore, music therapy can be a powerful tool in helping individuals process and cope with traumatic experiences or grief.
Music therapy has also shown positive effects on individuals with chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and chronic pain.
Music is also known to be strongly associated with cultural and spiritual practices, providing a means for individuals to connect with their heritage and beliefs.
