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Are there universal patterns between personality and musical preferences that cut across cultures and sociodemographic details? A new study intriguingly says yes.<\/p>\n
Previous studies<\/a> have looked at relationships between musical preference and personality types. A new study recently published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Personality and Social Psychology<\/em>, however, looked for university commonalities within those relationships when it comes to Western music genres.<\/p>\n Universals and variations in musical preferences: A study of preferential reactions to Western music in 53 countries<\/em><\/a> was spearheaded by Dr. David Greenberg, an honorary research associate at the University of Cambridge and a postdoctoral scholar at Bar-Ilan University. In order to gain meaningful results, the scope of the research was large, and incorporated two separate studies.<\/p>\n In addition to their preferential reactions to various genres of music, participants offered details about personality traits and demographic data. The so-called Big Five personality traits were used to organize the results, with clear patterns that were universal across all countries and cultures. That incorporates results from participants of different genders, ethnicities, and other factors.<\/p>\n The music was categorized according to a widely used framework called, appropriately, the MUSIC model<\/strong>. Western music was used for the study, since it is widely available across the globe.<\/p>\n The Big Five theory<\/strong>, first developed in 1949, breaks down basic personality types and the traits associated with them.<\/p>\n The study found universal correlations between those two sets of parameters:<\/p>\n Researchers had correctly predicted some of the results. For example, they accurately predicted that conscientious personality types, with a love of order and acceptance of authority, would not prefer the so-called intense music styles, which are often rooted in a rebellious attitude.<\/p>\n While much of the data was not unexpected, one finding surprised Greenberg. \u201cWe thought that neuroticism<\/strong> would have likely gone one of two ways, either preferring sad music to express their loneliness or preferring upbeat music to shift their mood. Actually, on average, they seem to prefer more intense musical styles<\/strong>, which perhaps reflects inner angst and frustration.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was surprising, but people use music in different ways \u2013 some might use it for catharsis, others to change their mood. So there may be subgroups who score high on neuroticism who listen to mellow music for one reason and another subgroup which is more frustrated and perhaps prefer intense music to let off steam. We\u2019ll be looking into that in more detail.\u201d<\/p>\n In a surprise to no one, the researchers did find some regional variations<\/strong>, such as the fact that the link between extroverts and contemporary music was strongest in equatorial regions, particularly in Central and South America. That correlation was highest in Brazil, and lowest in China. They posit that climate and geography may play a role in shaping personality types, and by extension, preferences in music.<\/p>\n Our musical preferences are also, to a certain extent, fluid, as the researchers note. It doesn\u2019t mean that an extrovert is automatically going to follow the pattern \u2014 the data looks at averages over the entire database.<\/p>\n In fact, Greenberg notes there are ways that sticking with those preferences may be counterproductive. \u201cIf people who score high for neuroticism, for example, are being fed more intense music, and they’re already feeling stressed and frustrated, is that helping with their anxiety or is it just reinforcing and perpetuating? These are the questions we now need to answer.\u201d<\/p>\n The researchers point out that the data serves as a strong base for further study.\u00a0\u201cWe were surprised at just how much these patterns between music and personality replicated across the globe,\u201d says Dr. Greenberg.<\/p>\n Greenberg is a saxophonist as well as neuroscientist and psychologist. He\u2019s quoted in a media release<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople may be divided by geography, language and culture, but if an introvert in one part of the world likes the same music as introverts elsewhere, that suggests that music could be a very powerful bridge. Music helps people to understand one another and find common ground.\u201d<\/p>\n Greenberg, who is currently based in Jerusalem, has already used music as a way of connecting Israelis and Palestinians in a work environment, and has given a TEDx talk on the subject.<\/p>\n He foresees research that would look deeper into the intersections of biology and culture that come together in our response to music. As a scientist, he\u2019s looking to find concrete ways of doing what music lovers already know about: using music as a bridge between cultures.<\/p>\n\n
Breaking down the parameters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The results<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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What\u2019s the point?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n