Musical tastes and personality type are closely related

[Guest guest]

Musical tastes and personality type are closely related, according to a study of more than 36,000 people from around the world. The research, which was carried out by Professor Adrian North of Heriot-Watt University, is said to be the largest such study ever undertaken. It suggested classical music fans were shy, while heavy metal aficionados were gentle and at ease with themselves. Professor North described the research as "significant" and "surprising".

 

What does your musical taste say about you?

He said: "We have always suspected a link between music taste and personality. This is the first time that we've been able to look at it in real detail. No-one has ever done this on this scale before."

 

 

Prof North said the research could have many uses in marketing, adding: "If you know a person's music preference you can tell what kind of person they are, who to sell to. "There are obvious implications for the music industry who are are worried about declining CD sales. "One of the most surprising things is the similarities between fans of classical music and heavy metal. They're both creative and at ease but not outgoing.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Don't worry about what people think of you because of the music you listen to. Music is the best thing in the world

Steve Harding, Wiltshire, UK

Send us your comments"The general public has held a stereotype of heavy metal fans being suicidally depressed and of being a danger to themselves and society in general. But they are quite delicate things."

More than 36,000 people from all over the world were asked to rate 104 musical styles and also questioned about aspects of their personality. The study is continuing and Prof North, who is head of the university's department of applied psychology, is still looking for participants to take part in a short online questionnaire.

MUSICAL STYLES VERSUS PERSONALITY TRAITS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BLUES

 

High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle and at ease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JAZZ

 

High self-esteem, creative, outgoing and at ease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLASSICAL MUSIC

 

High self-esteem, creative, introvert and at ease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RAP

 

High self-esteem, outgoing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERA

 

High self-esteem, creative, gentle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUNTRY AND WESTERN

 

Hardworking, outgoing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REGGAE

 

High self-esteem, creative, not hardworking, outgoing, gentle and at ease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DANCE

 

Creative, outgoing, not gentle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDIE

 

Low self-esteem, creative, not hard working, not gentle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOLLYWOOD

 

Creative, outgoing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROCK/HEAVY METAL

 

Low self-esteem, creative, not hard-working, not outgoing, gentle, at ease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHART POP

 

High self-esteem, not creative, hardworking, outgoing, gentle, not at ease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOUL

 

High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle, at ease

 

Peter vv

[Guest guest]

Hi PeterInteresting... if using some very wide genres (Rock/Heavy Metal & Jazz both covering vastly different styles, and probably equally true for the genres I'm not so familiar with!)

For those interested, the online questionnaire is at www.peopleintomusic.comBBPeter2008/9/5 Peter VV <swpgh01

 

 

 

 

Musical tastes and personality type are closely related, according to a study of more than 36,000 people from around the world. The research, which was carried out by Professor Adrian North of Heriot-Watt University, is said to be the largest such study ever undertaken. It suggested classical music fans were shy, while heavy metal aficionados were gentle and at ease with themselves. Professor North described the research as " significant " and " surprising " .

What does your musical taste say about you?

He said: " We have always suspected a link between music taste and personality. This is the first time that we've been able to look at it in real detail. No-one has ever done this on this scale before. "

 

 

Prof North said the research could have many uses in marketing, adding: " If you know a person's music preference you can tell what kind of person they are, who to sell to. " There are obvious implications for the music industry who are are worried about declining CD sales. " One of the most surprising things is the similarities between fans of classical music and heavy metal. They're both creative and at ease but not outgoing.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Don't worry about what people think of you because of the music you listen to. Music is the best thing in the world

Steve Harding, Wiltshire, UK

Send us your comments " The general public has held a stereotype of heavy metal fans being suicidally depressed and of being a danger to themselves and society in general. But they are quite delicate things. "

More than 36,000 people from all over the world were asked to rate 104 musical styles and also questioned about aspects of their personality. The study is continuing and Prof North, who is head of the university's department of applied psychology, is still looking for participants to take part in a short online questionnaire.

MUSICAL STYLES VERSUS PERSONALITY TRAITS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BLUES

 

High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle and at ease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JAZZ

 

High self-esteem, creative, outgoing and at ease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLASSICAL MUSIC

 

High self-esteem, creative, introvert and at ease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RAP

 

High self-esteem, outgoing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERA

 

High self-esteem, creative, gentle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUNTRY AND WESTERN

 

Hardworking, outgoing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REGGAE

 

High self-esteem, creative, not hardworking, outgoing, gentle and at ease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DANCE

 

Creative, outgoing, not gentle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDIE

 

Low self-esteem, creative, not hard working, not gentle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOLLYWOOD

 

Creative, outgoing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROCK/HEAVY METAL

 

Low self-esteem, creative, not hard-working, not outgoing, gentle, at ease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHART POP

 

High self-esteem, not creative, hardworking, outgoing, gentle, not at ease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOUL

 

High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle, at ease

 

Peter vv

[Guest guest]

LOL - I don't agree with these descriptions. I started my own little

list of friends and colleagues and put them into groups for certain

types of music. The conclusion I came to is that there are all sorts

of people in each group - so I think that generalisation in music

taste is as bad and misleading as any other generalisation.

 

Jo

 

, Peter VV <swpgh01 wrote:

>

> Musical tastes and personality type are closely related, according

to a study of more than 36,000 people from around the world.

> The research, which was carried out by Professor Adrian North of

Heriot-Watt University, is said to be the largest such study ever

undertaken.

> It suggested classical music fans were shy, while heavy metal

aficionados were gentle and at ease with themselves.

> Professor North described the research as " significant "

and " surprising " .

> What does your musical taste say about you?

> He said: " We have always suspected a link between music taste and

personality. This is the first time that we've been able to look at

it in real detail. No-one has ever done this on this scale before. "

> Prof North said the research could have many uses in marketing,

adding: " If you know a person's music preference you can tell what

kind of person they are, who to sell to.

> " There are obvious implications for the music industry who are are

worried about declining CD sales.

> " One of the most surprising things is the similarities between fans

of classical music and heavy metal. They're both creative and at ease

but not outgoing.

> HAVE YOUR SAY

> Don't worry about what people think of you because of the music you

listen to. Music is the best thing in the world

> Steve Harding, Wiltshire, UK

> Send us your comments " The general public has held a stereotype of

heavy metal fans being suicidally depressed and of being a danger to

themselves and society in general. But they are quite delicate

things. "

> More than 36,000 people from all over the world were asked to rate

104 musical styles and also questioned about aspects of their

personality.

> The study is continuing and Prof North, who is head of the

university's department of applied psychology, is still looking for

participants to take part in a short online questionnaire.

> MUSICAL STYLES VERSUS PERSONALITY TRAITS

> BLUES High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle and at ease

> JAZZ High self-esteem, creative, outgoing and at ease

> CLASSICAL MUSIC High self-esteem, creative, introvert and at

ease

> RAP High self-esteem, outgoing

> OPERA High self-esteem, creative, gentle

> COUNTRY AND WESTERN Hardworking, outgoing

> REGGAE High self-esteem, creative, not hardworking, outgoing,

gentle and at ease

> DANCE Creative, outgoing, not gentle

> INDIE Low self-esteem, creative, not hard working, not gentle

> BOLLYWOOD Creative, outgoing

> ROCK/HEAVY METAL Low self-esteem, creative, not hard-working,

not outgoing, gentle, at ease

> CHART POP High self-esteem, not creative, hardworking,

outgoing, gentle, not at ease

> SOUL High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle, at ease

>  

> Peter vv

>