Music Taste Can Predict Personality

In a new study, a researcher found that the type of music you listen to is a great indicator of your personality.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on September 07 2008

If you’re the sort of person who gets a little nervous around hordes of heavily pierced and tattooed metal fans, a new study might ease your mind: Though metal heads may look fierce, you may be just as likely to see them at the latest chick flick as at a Megadeth show.

In a survey of more than 36,000 people from all over the world, Professor Adrian North of Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University tried to determine if there was a link between an individual’s favorite type of music and their personality type. He found overwhelming correlations between fans of similar music - and metal fans, in particular, provided some surprising results. North found that the majority of metal fans were sensitive, creative, and mellow.

“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,” he told BBC News. “But they are quite delicate things.”

As far as other music forms go, North found that country music fans were loud and hard-working; classical aficionados were introverted, but confident and creative; and Top 40 fans had high self-esteem, but weren’t particularly creative.

“If you know a person’s music preferences, you can tell what kind of person they are,” said North. So if you’ve rejected a potential date on the basis of a Celine Dion album or two, you can thank Professor North - your reasoning has finally been justified.

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Science,

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