Music Choice Reveals Your Personality

Reuters

[meow]

"Music Choice Reveals Your Personality"

The next time you go to a party and want to hook up with someone new, ask this question to find just the right person: What kind of music do you like? Turns out, the music a person likes also reveals fun facts about his or her personality, according to new research from the University of Texas at Austin.

If you like blues, jazz, classical, or folk music... ...then you are intelligent, tolerant, and politically liberal.

If you like country or religious music... ...then you are cheerful, outgoing, reliable, and conventional.

If you like alternative or heavy metal music... ...then you are physically active and a curious risk-taker.

If you like rap/hip-hop or and dance music... ...then you are outgoing and agreeable and generally eschew conservative ideals.

Memorize this list. When you ask that cute stranger what kind of music he or she likes, you'll know if the two of you will hit it off. "It assumes that knowing the answer tells you something about who they are" and whether or not to pursue a relationship, Dr. Peter J. Rentfrow, a psychologist at the University of Texas at Austin and the lead study author, told Reuters. Along with Dr. Samuel D. Gosling, Rentfrow conducted six studies on over 3,500 students examining their music preferences, beliefs about music, self-perceptions, and cognitive abilities.

Don't look now, but advertisers can also use the same psychology. Fitting just the right music with just the right product for just the right demographics could make sales soar. "We might come up with typologies comprised of music preferences, socioeconomic status, and age," Rentfrow predicted to Reuters. He says there is very little research to date on music preferences and personalities because many consider it mundane. But Rentfrow doesn't agree. His findings suggest mthat personality, self-perception, and cognitive ability each play a role in the "formation and maintenance of music preferences."

[IronJack]

I think Beethoven was at God's side when the universe was planned. But I'm slightly to the right of Ghengis Khan. So much for this "study."

[Skooz]

I once bought a Devo cassette. I listened to it. I liked it.

I have chosen to come out here, in front of my friends.

[metesky]

If you like blues, jazz, classical, or folk music... ...then you are intelligent, tolerant, and politically liberal.

I like blues and classical and I'm to the right of Attila the Hun.

What a pant load!

[Clintons Are White Trash]

I know the feeling, on any given day you can hear Motown or Nessun Dorma blasting from my car...and then there are times I get a jones for some Led Zepplin...

[AmericanInTokyo]

I'm pretty flexible. I'll handle anything from Handl to Johnny Rotten & The Sex Pistols. :-)

[mhking]

What morons.

I love jazz, blues, pop, dance, new age and classical. What does that make me? Confused?

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

What if you never listen to music at all?

[mhking]

Isn't this just a step removed from the old, "Oh, you black people can all tap dance, right?"

Basically.

[Pyrion]

What about video game music? ;)

[theFIRMbss]

"Before the cream sits out too long
You must whip it"

[SoothingDave]

i've never know a heavy metal fan who was "active".

Headbanging is an activity. :-)

SD

[late bloomer]

And if you like romantic show tunes you are.......?????

[Mr. Jeeves]

I'll listen to Debussy, Pat Metheny, Rush and Disturbed on the same afternoon.

What does that make me? ;)

[Hatteras]

What about us ParrotHeads?!

[hchutch]

I think I have CDs of all types, from classical to gangster rap. Eclectic is the term I prefer to use...

[bedolido]

what about the Deaf?!!! Guess they don't have personalities then... </sarcasm>

[najida]

I think I am eclectic too...

Plus I like Koto drums, Andean folk, Algerian Rai and Turkish Pop....

Bet there isn't even a class for me ;)

[steveo]

What does it mean if once or twice in your life you bought music like this?

You're doomed.

[Corin Stormhands]

What a goofus study. And so PC.

No mention of "show tunes" or Streisand...and we know what that means...

[Snuffington]

Along with Dr. Samuel D. Gosling, Rentfrow conducted six studies on over 3,500 students examining their music preferences, beliefs about music, self-perceptions, and cognitive abilities.

Umm.... you think maybe a sample pool entirely composed of college students is perhaps a bit narrow?

I was politically liberal in college. It took me all of 1 year in the real world afterward to snap me out of it.