You've probably noticed that when you're not in the mood, for some reason you only want to listen to sad music.
And, although this resembles masochism, in fact such a reaction is understandable.
Experimental philosopher and psychologist Joshua Knobe from Yale University has found in his research that all people experience different emotions from listening to sad music.
For some it causes grief, for others it causes melancholy and self-pity, and for others it causes sweet sadness.
These feelings of empathy have a scientific basis: they are caused by the hormone prolactin.
When you feel bad and you listen to sad music, your prolactin levels increase, which makes you feel better.
Another person's sadness, conveyed through a song, can touch our feelings as well. That is, fans of such songs value, first of all, the shared experience with the performer.
That is why sad songs and music are often exactly what we need to get out of a sad state at the moment.
