The psychology of sad music

The psychology of sad music

July 17, 2012 , 4:25 PM by Hayley Crane

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What came first, the music, or the misery? A question made famous by John Cusack in the film High Fidelity.

Professor Nikki Rickard is a lecturer in the psychology of music at Monash University. She argues listening to negative emotive music helps us deal with our negative emotions.

She says people who wallow in sad music feel better about themselves as they find out others have felt the same way.

She tells Libbi what characterises a truly sad song.

 



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