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Why do we love songs that make us cry? The strong emotions they invoke set off a physical reaction that increases our "feel good" hormone dopamine. So even though it seems like we’re unhappy, we’ve never felt HAPPIER!

When psychologist John Sloboda asked people to identify the parts of songs that made them cry, he analyzed these passages and found that they all contained a musical device called an "appoggiatura," which is a type of note that clashes with the melody just enough to create a dissonant sound.
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It’s GOOD to be grumpy! Maybe it’s not good for your social life, but it’s good for your health.

Allan Hall reports in the Sydney Morning Herald that German researchers have discovered that people who smile a lot die a lot earlier than the grumpy people of the world.

Flight attendants, sales people, phone operators, waiters and other people who have to be friendly on the job for long periods of time are risking their health. This false friendliness can lead to depression and stress, which in turn leads to a weakened immune system. Psychologist Dieter Zapf says, “Every time a person is forced to repress his true feelings there are negative consequences for his health.”
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