| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/5/2008 8:39:27 AM | http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7598549.stm
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".
Chart of personality/tastes can be found at the above URL. | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/5/2008 9:54:28 AM | I agree man, as the AC/DC Song says "Let there be Rock!"
also "Rock and Roll ain't noise pollution, Rock and Roll ain't gonna die" | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/5/2008 10:09:23 AM | Oh dear. I like heavy metal/rock, indie AND opera. Does that make me schizophrenic ?
And Purplerocks.... it's John, Paul, George and Ringo.  | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/5/2008 11:32:03 AM | So what does it mean if you like neo-classical metal?
There is no way to categorize people by musical tastes. | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/5/2008 12:01:49 PM | I figure country music is "white people's rap."
I have about the same tolerance listening to either.
Give me Alanis and Sheryl Crow.
No, seriously, give them to me. . . . | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/5/2008 7:09:04 PM | | I like house music, rap music, hip hop, rnb, classical and operas, indie, alternative...I'd love to know where that leaves me :) | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/5/2008 7:39:36 PM | | I have to disagree with these generalizations. I am involved in the field of music and the people referred to as gentle are often not at all. Same with the other traits. However, there are some correlations that are important to many people when they're searching for a partner. We all like to share our favorite pieces of music and we tend to look for mates who can appreciate and have the same sensitivity and emotional responses to a piece of music. I sent a youtube to someone today who I knew would get the same chills as I did when I listened to it. Or we hear a movie score that knocks us out, we go out and buy the CD and hope our friends feel the same emotional connection to it. I may not agree with every finding in these studies but glad that people are taking the time to research this field. | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/5/2008 8:20:25 PM | | i agree, its an oversimplification. taste is more complicated than that. if my taste in must determined my persnality i would clearly have multiple personality disorder. i listen to everything from metal and punk to americana, blues, jazz to reggae and salsa. | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/5/2008 8:23:57 PM | Would it follow that a wide based eclectic taste in music would indicate that someone is schizophrenic?
I agree that generalization based on one's musical tastes is not logical. Aren't there enough generalizations out there already about people? | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/6/2008 11:01:10 AM | From the article:
MUSICAL STYLES VERSUS PERSONALITY TRAITS
BB King
BLUES
High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle and at ease
Thelonius Monk
JAZZ
High self-esteem, creative, outgoing and at ease
Nigel Kennedy
CLASSICAL MUSIC
High self-esteem, creative, introvert and at ease
Public Enemy
RAP
High self-esteem, outgoing
Aida
OPERA
High self-esteem, creative, gentle
Dolly Parton
COUNTRY AND WESTERN
Hardworking, outgoing
Linton Kwesi Johnson
REGGAE
High self-esteem, creative, not hardworking, outgoing, gentle and at ease
Rave
DANCE
Creative, outgoing, not gentle
Pete Doherty
INDIE
Low self-esteem, creative, not hard working, not gentle
Dancers
BOLLYWOOD
Creative, outgoing
Metallica
ROCK/HEAVY METAL
Low self-esteem, creative, not hard-working, not outgoing, gentle, at ease
Kylie Minogue
CHART POP
High self-esteem, not creative, hardworking, outgoing, gentle, not at ease
James Brown
SOUL
High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle, at ease
Source: Heriot-Watt University No offence, but I could have written this myself, as it almost exactly matches the stereotypes that people have about the people who listen to those types of music anyway. So all the study claims is that stereotypes about people and music are dead on. I know that most stereotypes aren't accurate.
Besides, the personality type that matches me most is: "Low self-esteem, creative, not hard-working, not outgoing, gentle, at ease".
So I should LOVE heavy metal. But most of the music I listen to is pop, or R&B, or electro-pop. The only heavy metal I listen to is the occasional Led Zeppelin, or Alex F's "The heat is on". I listen to Bill Withers and Fleetwood Mac far more than I do heavy metal.
At least someone had a go. But now, it's time to actually look at the facts:
Most people who share the same type of music now hang out in a group, like Emos, Goths, or all sorts of other groups. Those groups all have certain identifying rules of behaviour, that show which type you are. So music can be a form of identification, and in a person who DOESN'T belong to any of those groups, such behaviour does indicate these personality traits. HOWEVER, you have to take into account a lot more than just simply looking at what you see on the surface, to the music.
So I need to see a LOT more evidence before I buy this one.
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/6/2008 11:08:58 AM | | In the article the OP quoted, it says they queried over 35,000 people & are still seeking volunteers & it included a link for those interested in volunteering to participate in their data mining. | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/6/2008 11:16:23 AM | | If you ever look at horoscopes, almost every description can fit to you. Same as the ones in the article. They are so broad and overlapping they can fit almost anyone. You can look at a each description and say it got any person down 75%. | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/6/2008 5:26:21 PM | | That would make me dazed and confused! I like rock(all kinds from soft to metal), blues, jazz, hiphop, classical, opera, music from countries around the world, and so much more! I only dislike '80s dance pop and certain kinds of disco. Other than that I love all kinds of tunes--so I am very much Dazed and Confused--Led Zep anyone??? | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/6/2008 11:55:23 PM | Music tastes link to personality
What's overlooked in the study is music x personality x age x gender. I suspect that the labels are bias towards specific age groups. | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/7/2008 1:29:55 AM | hmmm, scorpion mover, i divorced a man from Heriot-Watt! but, i am still blues and jazz, born and bred Sweet Basil, NYC---Doc Cheatham, my kind and chatty soul, may you rest in peace!
HOWEVER, i'll dance to anything. even had the kids teaching me the rap moves. except the one where you hold onto your crotch... so "unstylish"!
i don't know, i guess it's what makes your heart sing....piano, sax and drums move me forward. each one a manifestation of some sort of neurotranmitter, i think. guitar is nostalgic, memory and traces of 60's memories. i like, in jazz, when it gets all screechy and discordant. i am no academic, but i'm told by jazz musicians that i have that "feeling" and i seem to follow them. it just seems to make sense to me. | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/7/2008 3:07:36 AM | Where the heck is Heriot Watt University?? I've never heard of it - I reckon it's made up ;-)
I also have very eclectic musical tastes, going from The Beatles, Ash, Franz Ferdinand, through Jamiroquai, The Prodigy, Madness, Grieg, Prokofiev, Barry Adamson, Leggo Beast, Imogen Heap, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Nirvana, Blur, Gorillaz, The Waterboys, Spin Doctors, Steeleye Span (who???), Coldplay, Keane, Kings Of Convenience, The Blackbirds, and mainly A-HA, including Magne F, Savoy and Morten Harket as solo artists (no one else knows they're even still going, let alone do their own solo stuff!).
The only stuff I don't listen to is Country & Western, Britney Spears, and most rap, but I like Gorillaz of course - who doesn't?
I love the eclectic mix on Soma FM on itunes radio ;-) it has lounge, jazz, rock, trance, chillout, acid jazz, dance, trip hop, and a wide range of genres :-)
- psychoanalyse THAT lot!  | |
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Agapis
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Joined: 3/20/2008
Msg: 19 | |
| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/7/2008 3:41:07 AM |
so as I like goa trance, heavy metal, medieval, some classical, what does that tell u ?
that you use some strange drugs? probably Belladonna, Henbane, or Blue Lotus Flowers.
Or Melange. | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/7/2008 4:39:15 AM | | Listen to anything with a catchy beat or good melody. Rap, Rock, Country, Soul, Blues are my favorite styles. Music to me is makin the ears happy. | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/7/2008 6:56:02 AM |
Where the heck is Heriot Watt University?? I've never heard of it - I reckon it's made up ;-) It is a university in Edinburgh, in the UK. It was established in 1821. Irvine Welsh, the author of Trainspotting went there, as well as James Naysmith, engineer and inventor of the Steam Hammer. | |
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| Music tastes link to personality
Posted: 9/14/2008 6:08:45 PM | | So what about the people who do not like music? What are their links to a personality? Not me personally, but i was a little curious. Besides, a lot of times when i am in the car, i rarely even turn on the radio. Especially when i want to have a conversation with someone. Or else i do not want to listen to anything. Or anyone. | |
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