Finland | A massive international study led by researchers at the University of Jyväskylä reveals that a listener’s specific behavioral relationship with music dictates whether they experience complex, mixed emotions when listening to a song. Published in the Journal of Research in Personality, the research challenges traditional, single-emotion survey metrics by proving that personally meaningful music frequently triggers simultaneous positive and negative feelings.The study analyzed a global dataset of 2,137 participants spanning 84 countries. Each individual selected a deeply meaningful track and rated the co-occurrence of conflicting emotional states, such as love and relaxation alongside sadness and isolation. Led by Margarida Baltazar, Iballa Burunat, and Suvi Saarikallio from the Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain, the team mapped these responses against demographics, personality traits, and cultural orientations.The data indicates that the cognitive purpose behind selecting a song directly influences emotional complexity. Songs utilized specifically to trigger deep introspection, connect with an artistic mood, or project personal identity yielded high rates of mixed emotional states. Conversely, tracks intentionally deployed for active stress regulation, mood management, or cognitive distraction resulted in highly uniform, single-emotion outcomes.Demographically, mixed emotional experiences were most prevalent among younger demographics, individuals exhibiting spontaneous and emotionally volatile personality profiles, and individuals possessing highly individualistic cultural backgrounds. The researchers concluded that independent, goal-oriented listeners are significantly more prone to using music as an active vehicle for identity expression and memory recall, naturally resulting in more nuanced internal experiences.
Source: University of Jyväskylä
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