Sad music helps when you're down; IIT researchers find out why

'TRAGEDY PARADOX'

Why does listening to sad music help in times of sadness? Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IT) Mandi are looking for answers behind the "tragedy paradox".

According to IIT Mandi Director Laxmidhar Behera, music has a powerful ability to affect our emotions, and it's no secret that people often turn to music to boost their mood or to help them through a tough time.

"But why do we sometimes seek out sad music, even when we try to minimise sadness in our lives? Despite our natural inclination to avoid sadness, this particular emotion has a strange and enduring appeal when expressed through art. This so-called 'tragedy paradox' has puzzled philosophers for centuries. It has been postulated that the tragedy paradox arises simply because of the aesthetic appeal of gloomy tunes," Behera said.