Music Preference & Personality Traits

When people are asked what they’ve been listening to lately, most can reply “Drake or Justin Bieber”, but that’s because it is the most popular music in the news. There’s nothing wrong with listening to the billboard charts. However, besides the mainstream music that everyone listens to, everyone clings to a certain genre of music that they would choose to listen to over others. Apparently, the genre that you choose silently speaks about the type of personality you have. Music and personality are inevitably cohesive because depending on the type of person you are, your music taste most likely reflects it. Sometimes just by knowing a few things about a person, you can get a general feel for the type of music that person enjoys. If you were to ask an unbiased stranger to describe the type of people who would attend a specific concert, their description would most likely fit somewhat of an accurate picture of the general audience because music and personality taste seem to go hand in hand. For example, most people assume Justin Bieber fans are little girls, rap fans are aggressive and that people at heavy metal shows are going to be big burly men wearing chains and while there is a bit of truth in those thoughts, it’s not always the case. While most people are stereotyped by the type of music they listen to, listed below are personality characteristics that actual studies show have been connected to your preferred genre of music: 

1. Rock & Roll – (music shown to improve physical performance, including heavy metal and alternative)

·         intense

·         rebellious

·         creative

·         independent

·         high on openness to experience

·         curious

·         welcoming of new perspectives

·         quite gentle

·         politically liberal

·         dominant with an impulsive communication

·         not very conscientious

·         spontaneous

·         disorganized

·         lacking in self-restraint

·         complex

·         novel

·         more introverted

·         lower self-esteem
source:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/231231762090913199/

2. Indie/Folk

·         less athletic

·         liberal

·         intellectual

·         open-minded

·         reflective

·         complex

·         introverted

·         creative

·         less hard-working

·         less gentle

·         passive

·         anxious

·         low self-esteem 

3. Pop

·         agreeable

·         extrovert

·         conscientious

·         high self-confidence

·         politically conservative

·         lower IQ

·         happy

·         upbeat

·         conventional

·         highly neurotic

·         emotional

·         intense

·         less creative

·         more uneasy

·         outgoing

·         gentle

·         hard-working

·         honest

4. Country

·         agreeable

·         extrovert

·         conscientious

·         high self-confidence

·         politically conservative

·         lower IQ

·         happy

·         upbeat

·         conventional

·         unpretentious

·         kind

·         self-disciplined

·         more close-minded

·         incurious

·         less creative

·         more neurotic

·         emotional

·         hardworking

·         outgoing 

5. Rap & Hip-Hop 

·         extrovert

·         agreeable

·         attractive

·         athletic

·         unfiltered

·         energetic

·         rhythmic

·         contemporary

·         politically liberal

·         outspoken

·         inconspicuous in social situations

·         upbeat conventional

·         high self-esteem

·         outgoingsource:http://theodysseyonline.com/chatham/is-rap-music-crap-music/238780

6. Electronic

·         extrovert

·         agreeable

·         attractive

·         athletic

·         unfiltered

·         energetic

·         rhythmic

·         contemporary

·         politically liberal

·         outspoken

·         inconspicuous in social situations

·         happy

·         upbeat

·          conventional

·         outgoing

·         assertive

·         creative

·         less gentle

7. Blues/Jazz

·         less athletic

·         liberal

·         intelligent

·         open-minded

·         reflective

·         complex

·         mellow

·         high on openness to experience

·         novel

·         more extroverted

·         high self-esteem

·         very creative

·         easygoing

8. Classical – (music that helps you relax)

·         less athletic

·         liberal

·         intelligent

·         open-minded

·         reflective

·         complex

·         sophisticated

·         high on openness to experience

·         curious

·         creative

·         politically liberal

·         docile in social interactions

·         novel

·         more introverted

·         easygoing

·         creative

·         high self-esteem
 

9. Gospel

·         agreeable

·         extroverted

·         conscientious

·         high self-confidence

·         politically conservative

·          lower IQ

·         happy

·         upbeat

·         conventional

·          mellow

·         high on openness to experience

*These descriptions are general assumptions from multiple studies and not applicable to ALL people*