A1 Journal article (refereed)
Memorable Experiences with Sad Music : Reasons, Reactions and Mechanisms of Three Types of Experiences (2016)

Eerola, T., & Peltola, H.-R. (2016). Memorable Experiences with Sad Music : Reasons, Reactions and Mechanisms of Three Types of Experiences. PLoS ONE, 11(6), Article e157444. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157444

JYU authors or editors

Eerola, Tuomas
Peltola, Henna-Riikka

Publication details

All authors or editors: Eerola, Tuomas; Peltola, Henna-Riikka

Journal or series: PLoS ONE

ISSN: 1932-6203

eISSN: 1932-6203

Publication year: 2016

Volume: 11

Issue number: 6

Article number: e157444

Publisher: Public Library of Science

Place of Publication: San Francisco

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157444

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/50479

Abstract

Reactions to memorable experiences of sad music were studied by means of a survey administered to a convenience (N = 1577), representative (N = 445), and quota sample (N = 414). The survey explored the reasons, mechanisms, and emotions of such experiences. Memorable experiences linked with sad music typically occurred in relation to extremely familiar music, caused intense and pleasurable experiences, which were accompanied by physiological reactions and positive mood changes in about a third of the participants. A consistent structure of reasons and emotions for these experiences was identified through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses across the samples. Three types of sadness experiences were established, one that was genuinely negative (Grief-Stricken Sorrow) and two that were positive (Comforting Sorrow and Sweet Sorrow). Each type of emotion exhibited certain individual differences and had distinct profiles in terms of the underlying reasons, mechanisms, and elicited reactions. The prevalence of these broad types of emotional experiences suggested that positive experiences are the most frequent, but negative experiences were not uncommon in any of the samples. The findings have implications for measuring emotions induced by music and fiction in general, and call attention to the non-pleasurable aspects of these experiences.

Keywords: music; emotions

Free keywords: experiences; sadness

Fields of science: