The songs you listen to the most can explain traits about your way of being, thinking or acting
They say that it is impossible to spend a day without listening to any music. This art of combining sounds plays a great role in the lives of people all over the world and at any age. Thus, people listen to songs from among the more than one hundred musical styles that exist as a way to create an atmosphere, whether at a party, in the middle of training or quietly, at home, reflecting your mood.
But music is not just song lyrics, it can also reflect something about the personality, way of being or acting of each person. Some of the key psychological functions they serve are to enhance performance, stimulate curiosity or imagination, and amplify certain moods. Other factors such as gender, age, cultural background or social class also play important roles in musical taste.
How do those choices influence underlying personality traits? A study conducted by researchers at Heriot-Watt University examined more than 36,000 participants from around the world. Participants were asked to rate a large number of 104 musical styles, as well as offer insight into aspects of their respective personalities.
The types of music you enjoy may be related to your brain’s ways of processing information. Thus, the researchers published the results and related certain musical styles with some of the personality traits.
What does the music you listen to say about your personality?
Rap or hip hop music: The stereotype of people who listen to rap or hip hop being aggressive or violent has nothing to do with reality. Thus, fans of these styles of music tend to have high self-esteem and are generally outgoing and independent. But the largest percentage of unindustrious people is found among listeners of this musical genre.
Classical music: Classical music lovers tend to be more introverted, but they are also comfortable with themselves and the world around them. They are creative, and have a good sense of self-esteem.
Dance music: According to the study, people who prefer dance music tend to be outgoing and assertive. They also tend to have a low level of gentleness, as well as being high on the openness to experience trait.
Rock, heavy, or metal music: Researchers found that people who regularly listen to these styles of music tend to be quite friendly, creative, sophisticated, and often introverted. They may also suffer from low self-esteem and are often not hard-working.
Pop music: extroverted, honest and conventional are the adjectives that best define pop lovers. They tend to be hard-working and have high self-esteem, but they are less creative and more awkward. They are also polite and active.
Country music: Country music listeners are hard-working, conventional and outgoing, according to the researchers. Additionally, they tend to be more emotionally stable and tend to be more conservative and rank lower in the range of openness to experience.
Indie Music: People who prefer this style of music are typically introverted, intellectual, and creative, as well as tend to be less industrious and ungentlemanly. Other personality characteristics are passivity, anxiety or low self-esteem.
Jazz, blues or soul music: these people tend to be more extroverted and have high self-esteem. They are also often creative, intelligent and comfortable. In general, they are social, active, self-confident and easy-going, and the highest number of people with above-average IQs tend to be found among lovers of this style of music.