The research, published Friday by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, asked 36,000 music lovers worldwide to list their favourite music and give brief descriptions of their personalities in what is believed to be the largest such study ever undertaken.
It was led by Adrian North, head of the university's department of applied psychology, who said he had been "surprised" by some of the results.
"One of the most surprising things is the similarities between fans of classical music and heavy metal. They're both creative and at ease but not outgoing," said North.
"The general public has held a stereotype of heavy metal fans being suicidally depressed and of being a danger to themselves and society in general. But they are quite delicate things."
According to North, heavy metal and classical fans are united by a "shared love of the grandiose," which meant that a "Metallica fan is more likely to listen to Mahler than an indie kid is to give reggae a try."
"Aside from their age difference, they are basically same kind of person."
Fans of indie music were found to have low self-esteem and little motivation, while rap enthusiasts "tend to think a lot about themselves and are extremely outgoing" and country and western fans were outgoing and hard-working.
Those who love dance and music were extrovert but "more likely to be unfriendly and slightly self-centred."
According to the study, blues and jazz lovers have generally high self-esteem, are creative, outgoing and at ease - traits they share with rock'n'roll fans who were, however, "not very kind or generous."
North suggested that the results explained why "so many people bond over music because it is "profoundly linked to the person we are."
What do you think? Is this research valid?
The below is a great video and song! Check it out, very interesting use of light and liquid. The director (Jaron Albertin) has made several very cool videos (one I will feature for Freud for extra credit analysis!)
35 comments:
"The general public has held a stereotype of heavy metal fans being suicidally depressed and of being a danger to themselves and society in general. But they are quite delicate things."
HA! I knew it
By the way, you best burn me a CD one of these days with whatever you listen to. Er, okay, I mean, if you have time...not a demand.
Sure! Anytime, come on by (maybe during lunch) and you can burn away!
Really? Thanks! What lunch do you have? I have first everyday (actually, that MIGHT change because Doctor Harris wants to switch to 2nd lunch and that's who I have third...)
Of course! I have both lunches because my prep period is 3rd.
Nice. Do you want any music? It's probably not as good, but you know.
Sure!! Thanks! Anything you recommend would be awesome!
wow that was interesting, but i thought one of the major issues with the article is that not all people only like one type of music so finding a personality or defining someones personality wouldn't be that straight forward. say you like jazz and heavy metal the two personalities contradict each other
I thought that was interesting and may definitely be accurate for some people but not for others. As the person above me said if you like more than one type of music (like I do) it doesn't necessarily work out. I apparently have both high and low self esteem among a variety of other contradictory traits if you take the study's findings as facts. I'm sure musical preferences can give hints to your personality, but that it can "reveal who you are" is a bit strong in my opinion. I think it takes more than an analysis of musical tastes to understand that.
I think that the results are probably accurate for some, but not all people. I thought it was really interesting that people who like heavy metal and classical share certain personality traits. But, like the people before me have said, this study seems flawed in that people do like different types of music, such as myself. I don't like one specific genre of music, so it'd be hard to classify what my personality is based on what music I like.
That was a certainly unexpected conclusion they came to. It really is an interesting idea, matching your music preference with your personality. But, I think they might need to design their test a little better. I'm beginning to wonder how many people they used in their experiment... If the results are true, though, that definitely breaks some of the stereotypes that people normally think of.
Pretty interesting article, makes me wonder...I like classical and alternative music maybe i should try to be a bit more shy and suicidal so i can fit the mold! haha
Nicki,
Good point! My only suggestion would be that the participants probably had to report what kind of music they most often listened to.
Cheers!
Joseph,
No doubt! Personality is far more complex than this!
Paje,
True! Hmm, I wonder if you had to isolate to only the music you listen to the most. How would the data fair then?
Kristin,
Great point! How many people and their demographics?
Bre!
Ha! Strange indeed. I am not into heavy metal but like classical. What's that about. The study suggests that perhaps I should like heavy metal...
hmp, i dont think im that self centered just cuz i like dance and rave. what is alternative? is that considered to be the same as rock?
i like this type of study just cuz im one of those peps who takes tons of personality quizes, and although those dont really have much basis, i think this type of study dose cuz it is takeing many bits of info from LOTS of different people. but i think there is lots of exeptions to the conclusions that this guy made.
Will,
The personality traits they reference are most likely rather subtle versus extreme.
This is interesting research and I think advertisers probably find it rather helpful!
I already have Built to Spill's full 'You in Reverse' album. Which is really quite good. I should be listening to it more often. Unless you think I should have anything else by them?
You don't need to burn me anything (I almost feel bad taking your stuff)
If it's no trouble then you can burn anything you feel would be beneficial to expanding my musical intelligence.
I'm still thinking of what to put on your CD!
Oh yeah! Perfect From Now On is probably one of the greatest albums of all time! Hmm, do you have:
Looking at your list that you burned, I will burn you some stuff.
If it's no trouble, that would be great.
I really appreciate that Mr Caro!
It is my pleasure!
haha I thought that it was pretty cool, I'm more of a rap fan myself and it seems pretty accurate. It was funny what it said about indie fans.
Worst characteristic:
"not very kind or generous."
I think it would work if a person really likes one type of music. But most people like lots of different things, like me.
I wasn't really surprised though that people who listen to indie have lower self esteem because whenever i think of indie music i think of people who are depressed
Hey Amy,
I wonder what they meant by Indie music anyway. I understand that label, but there is a broad range of music in that heading.
I definitly noticed that many people who enjoy heavy metal also enjoy classical. Being a musician myself, I have spoken to many other musicians about this, especially guitar players. It gets more specific...Heavy metal uses many of the same structures and ideas as traditional classical music. In fact, a popular new sub-genre of music is called neoclassical, where shred guitar and classical come together to form what some fans call "fantasy" metal. A lot of this music can be found in video games and japanese anime movies. There is actually much money to be made in the way of composing for video games and movies.
Interesting Elliot! I guess they were limited in scope of the kinds of music.
I think this could be true for many people but definitely not for all. I think a lot of people who listen to certain types of music TRY to fit the mold of that scene, so maybe people put up a front- or maybe that just proves the study to be right, haha I don't know, it's pretty interesting. I mostly listen to indie music so I guess that's why I'm on your blog instead of doing my homework, i have no motivation- I'm KIDDING
Roxy,
Good point! There is an image which travels with music. You have pointed out one of the major flaws in surveys: no assurance participants are being honest.
Cheers!
That was a really good song. Ive never heard of her before. And the video i found very interesting.
I thought it was kinda funny how that study said indie kids have low self-esteem, haha
But i also thought that they didnt really address how people listen to more then just one genre of music.
Because my musical palette is all over the place, but it really depends on my mood and what not.
I also remember reading, or hearing from somewhere else that metalheads and classical music people were similar and what not.
Very intersting stuff.
Mathias,
The song and video are great!
I think most people often listen to a type of music given their mood. I guess the research was looking for a general approach.
That was a way cool video I kinda felt like I was watching an xray without the bones in a way it was weird. I really liked the song too what other good music do you know of that you want to tell me about?!
By the way Breast cancer awareness month is in oct thats strange the race is in sept.
Hey Erika!
It is a very cool video! The director has made some other very interesting and creative videos. I will have to post another one soon.
Hmm, other music? I am not sure but feel free to check out whatever is on my iTunes.
Hmmm that seems to confirm all the stereotypes. Makes sense to me.
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