A TED-Ed Animation Explaining the History of Melancholy and the Genetic Advantages of Sadness

A recent TED-Ed animation and lesson by Courtney Stevens explains the history of society’s views on melancholy and how sadness can be seen as an evolutionary advantage.

If you are a living, breathing human being, chances are you have felt sad at least a few times in your life. But what exactly is melancholy, and what (if anything) should we do about it? Courtney Stephens details our still-evolving understanding of sadness — and even makes a case for its usefulness.