Music plays an important role in the lives of people all over the world, which is why many wonder what individual factors might influence musical preferences. Could the contents of your playlist, for example, reveal something about your personality? People listen to music as a way to set the mood, to motivate a workout, or even to gain inspiration. How much are those choices influenced by underlying personality traits? One large-scale study conducted by researchers at Heriot-Watt University looked at more than 36, participants from all over the world. Participants were asked to rate more than different musical styles in addition to offering information about aspects of their personalities. According to the researcher, Adrian North, the reason people sometimes feel defensive about their taste in music might be related to how much it relates to attitudes and personality. North suggests that people do define themselves through music and use it as a means to relate to other people. His research points to the connection that people often make between who they are as an individual and their musical tastes.
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Music genre vs. personality
What does your taste in music say about your personality? Find out with this quiz! This psychology test will tell you how other people see you based on what types of music you listen to. Results are instant, free, and anonymous. Have a web page? Link to me! You can also link to your results. Want to learn more? You can read answers to frequently asked questions about the music study.
Of course you have. But enough trivia. It also turns out music affects your behavior — and much more than you might think. Studies show music can lead you to drink more , spend more , be kind , or even act unethically.
