All people have different tastes in music. That is why it is believed that a person’s musical preferences help to form a final opinion about him/her. Can the music we listen to tell us about our personality and character traits? Let’s get to the bottom of this question.
Musical taste and human character
A study determined the relationship between a person’s musical preferences and personality. It involved 36,000 people worldwide, and 104 different styles of music were considered. Each participant filled out a questionnaire and asked what kind of music he preferred. The results showed that personality and musical taste correlate, but individual differences also play a significant role.
The researchers found some patterns. For example, pop music fans are honest, hardworking, slightly restless, and not particularly creative. Many sports fans are among them, so pop music is often played at sporting events. Viewers of basketball, soccer, and especially cricket matches know this well.
This kind of music is also relaxing and helps you make decisions. This is partly why people can bet while watching the exact cricket matches. However, the main reason is the simplicity of such bets. After all, you can make them directly over the Internet using your phone. If you visit a top-ranked sports-related website, you can find information about cricket betting apps from the best bookmakers. Therefore, the threshold of entry into betting has been maximally lowered.
According to the study, the perception that rap fans are aggressive, violent individuals has not been confirmed. It turned out to be just a stereotype. However, rap music and hip-hop fans are characterized by inflated self-esteem and sociability.
Country music fans are hardworking, outgoing, and conservative. Although country music is often associated with heartbreak, fans of this style are emotionally stable. There is a stereotype that rock and metal fans are aggressive and angry. However, research shows that rockers are rather soft-hearted. They are introverts by nature and often have low self-esteem.
Indie fans were noted as introverts, creatives, and intellectuals but were less hardworking than fans of other genres. They were also characterized by increased anxiety, passivity, and low self-esteem. Those who preferred dance music were sociable individuals open to new experiences.
Classical music lovers tend to be slightly withdrawn, with good creative abilities and healthy self-esteem. Jazz, blues, and soul fans have the highest self-esteem. They also tend to be innovative, highly intelligent, and easygoing.
Researchers suggest that people define themselves through music and use it to communicate with others. Therefore, people often defend their musical taste because criticizing their favorite music is perceived as criticism of themselves.
Age is also important
Music taste is influenced not only by personality traits but also by a person’s age. Usually, musical preferences begin to form in adolescence. During this period, people learn and shape other essential aspects of their social life. Researchers have revealed that adults listen to the music they like during their teenage years. Therefore, the hits you danced to at school discos still evoke warm emotions and pleasant memories.