This gem of a quote matches my personal experience. I have one playlist for reading/reviewing/editing code, which is mostly somber, melodic music. Works like a charm.CodeFaster is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
I’m reading a book right now called “The Science of Sadness,” and there’s a chapter titled “Melancholic Realism.” It says (I think) that the whole point of the emotion of melancholy is clear thinking(!)
Highly relevant paragraph: “Kevin Au and his colleagues at the Chinese University of Hong Kong conducted a series of experiments to determine the effect of mood on traders in financial markets. They employed an internet platform that simulated foreign exchange trading based on historical market data. In one experiment, they used happy and sad music to induce different moods in the traders. They found that traders exposed to the happy music made inferior trades and lost money, whereas those traders exposed to the sad music made better decisions resulting in greater profits. The sad-mood traders behaved in a more prudent manner, whereas the happy-mood traders were overconfident and took greater risks”
I wouldn’t put a ton of stock in it replicating, but it’s still an interesting data point. And regardless, the idea to use playlists to strategically alter your mood is brilliant
I’m reading a book right now called “The Science of Sadness,” and there’s a chapter titled “Melancholic Realism.” It says (I think) that the whole point of the emotion of melancholy is clear thinking(!)
Highly relevant paragraph: “Kevin Au and his colleagues at the Chinese University of Hong Kong conducted a series of experiments to determine the effect of mood on traders in financial markets. They employed an internet platform that simulated foreign exchange trading based on historical market data. In one experiment, they used happy and sad music to induce different moods in the traders. They found that traders exposed to the happy music made inferior trades and lost money, whereas those traders exposed to the sad music made better decisions resulting in greater profits. The sad-mood traders behaved in a more prudent manner, whereas the happy-mood traders were overconfident and took greater risks”
I wouldn’t put a ton of stock in it replicating, but it’s still an interesting data point. And regardless, the idea to use playlists to strategically alter your mood is brilliant