Why do people like to listen to sad songs?

Question

Why do people like to listen to sad songs? Sadness is not a positive feeling, so people should avoid it, right? Listening to sad songs is like inflicting some pain to yourself just for pleasure. Did someone studied this? Why do people like sad songs? Is it similar mechanism to masochism? What is evolutionary role of feeling sad on purpose? What is neurological background of this phenomenon?

Answer 1

I'm not an expert in this field but just from previous knowledge, I know that there is a neural pathway called the Spinoreticular pathway that is a big factor on the emotional and arousal aspects of pain. From an evolutionary perspective, many animals display sadness when taken away from their mothers while young. This is important as mothers provide security and other essentials for them.