You probably think this song is about you....

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Wed Jul 16, 2003 4:55 am

Apparently this is the research that they are doing at my alma mater these days.....enjoy !!

July 10 2003
By Roger Dobson,

You are your record collection, according to new research that reveals how personality is reflected through music.

If you really want to get to know someone, try rummaging through their CD collection. An study has proved that when it comes to judging a person's character, their favourite music is one of the most valuable clues.

Almost anything about a man or a woman - from their looks, intelligence and fitness, to politics, wealth and even conversational ability - can be gleaned from the tunes they enjoy most.

People who favour Madonna's Material Girl, for example, are likely to be cheerful, outgoing and reliable. They will probably consider themselves physically attractive as well. If on the other hand, someone prefers the Rolling Stones' Brown Sugar, they are likely to possess more of an inquiring mind, enjoy taking risks, and consider themselves to be pretty intelligent.

In the study, psychologists from the University of Texas questioned 3500 people about their individual musical preferences and then matched them with their personality traits.

The American researchers, who reported their findings in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, say the link between music choice and personality has remained, until now, an unexplored area of psychology.

"At this very moment, in homes, offices, cars, restaurants and clubs around the world, people are listening to music, but despite its prevalence in everyday life, the sound of music has remained mute within social and personality psychology," the report says.

The researchers, who also found that people listened to music more often than almost any other activity, including reading, watching TV and viewing films, put the volunteers through personality tests designed to tease out as much about them as possible.

They then asked the men and women about the music they liked the most. A total of 140 pieces of music were used, divided into 14 different genres, with 10 songs in each.

John McKie, former editor of music magazines Q and Smash Hits, said: "I know guys that have split up with girls just because they found a dodgy record in their collection.

"I don't think anyone who's really passionate about music just 'listens' to it. This research is positive confirmation of the fact that songs are emblematic of people's characters.

"I've always believed that people's musical taste says a lot about them. If you like Avril Lavigne, for example, you probably need to have your ears syringed."

Just why musical likes and dislikes are so closely linked to personality is not clear. One theory is that it is because individuals select music to reinforce their views of themselves.

"Individuals may, for example, listen to esoteric music to reinforce a self-view of being sophisticated. Individuals might also select styles of music that allow them to send a message about how they like to be seen. Individuals who listen to heavy metal music at a loud volume with their car window down, for example, may be trying to convey a tough image." the report says. "If musical preferences are partially determined by personality, self-views and cognitive abilities, then knowing what kind of music a person likes could serve as a clue to his personality and views of himself."

Researchers also found that while people had favourites, they also, flirted with other music: "One possibility is that people choose a tempo of music that is consistent with the heart rate that characterises their current or desired mood," says the report.

Bob Dylan

Blowin' in the Wind: Inventive, solid, open to new experiences, consider themselves to be intelligent, good conversationalists, but not too clever at maths or analytical stuff. Politically liberal, but not very sporty. Unlikely to be depressed.

Beethoven

Ode to Joy: Active imagination, values aesthetic experiences, inventive, tolerant of others, consider themselves to be intelligent, and reject conservative ideals. Least likely to say something without thinking first.

Rolling Stones

Brown Sugar: Agreeable, open to new experiences, athletic, intelligent, with good verbal skills, and tend to be dominant in interpersonal relationships.

REM

It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine): Not neurotic, curious about different things. Enjoy taking risks, physically active and intelligent. May be prone to depression.

Jennifer Lopez

I'm Real: Conventional, upbeat, cheerful, socially outgoing, reliable, enjoy helping others, and see themselves as physically attractive.

Barry White

Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe: A tendency to be talkative and full of energy. They are also forgiving, and have a strong dislike of conservatism.

Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes

If You Don't Know Me By Now: Extrovert, agreeable, also flirtatious with a tendency to express their feelings straight away. Liberal and athletic, and on the whole think of themselves as pretty attractive.

- The Independent

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed Jul 16, 2003 5:08 am

If only Leonard had been listed amongst them, we'd at last have had a well-researched, definitive answer to the Poll, "LC Fans ~ What are we like?"

Linda · Post by **Linda** » Wed Jul 16, 2003 4:26 pm

Wasn't there a Young Doctor Freud posting here at one time, a research on LC's fans would be most interesting.

It would probably shoot a hole right through that research, because I doubt that we could be grouped that closely in character.

I believe your character can be be formed by the music you listen to. Especially at an early age. Some research has been done on that some years ago also.

jurica · Post by **jurica** » Wed Jul 16, 2003 9:31 pm

i don't know...
it sounds like a load of crap to me.

...amusing load of crap, none the less.

they used to say: tell me what you read, and i'll tell you who you are.
we all like LC, but if you check our reading preferences, you'll find they differ a great deal.

Jo · Post by Jo » Wed Jul 16, 2003 10:52 pm

I've always thought if I were a movie Beethoven's Ode to Joy would be my signature tune but I'm sure there's not a soul in this world who would harbour the vaguest illusion that the researcher's description could be even remotely accurate iro me.

Jo

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Thu Jul 17, 2003 1:48 am

So if, like me, you like Dylan (did I mention that before?) and REM, then you're "physically active and intelligent" "but not very sporty" and merely "consider themselves to be intelligent" and you "May be prone to depression" but are "Unlikely to be depressed".

Hmmmmm. Presumably you're also a tall short person, clean-shaven with a mustache...

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 1:57 am

Hello!
Interesting article this.
I think that music tastes change through life too and they are related with the spirit more than with aspects like culture or others.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 3:12 am

Now wait just a cotton pickin' minute, jurica [and Tim

] ~ Are you trying to say that we are not a homogeneous group with predictable personality and character traits

?

Aavalanche · Post by **Aavalanche** » Sun Jul 20, 2003 6:21 am

What do you suppose would be the psychological profile of someone who's favourite record is "Songs of Love and Hate"?

And the cameras pan,- the stand in stunt man,- dress rehearsal rag.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 7:29 pm

Good question, Aavalanche!

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Wed Jul 23, 2003 5:18 am

Linda....I am not certain but I think there was also a study about how babies in the womb can perceive music that the mother hears and how it affects them.

witty_owl · Post by **witty_owl** » Wed Jul 23, 2003 3:47 pm

This is not to take anything away from my love of Leonard's music and my respect for his writing but --- If I am truthful I must concede that my all time favourite songwriter is Van Morrison. In respect to both his lyric writing and his melodic appeal. Van's music consistently appeals to me as a listening experience and as a performance high from the point of view as a covering musician(doing gigs).
As a listener I am also consistently drawn to Pink Floyd and this is I suspect, more to do with Gilmour's musicality than Water's lyricism(though I much admire most of his lyrics).
Now what this indicates about my personality I am not too sure nor do I think a shrink could be too accurate in making an assessment.

Van is a mystic and the Irish blues and soul man. David is very much the english gentleman and his music to me is classicism using the format of a modern rock band. (check out his solo DVD and you may understand this assertion). Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen had much to do with setting me on the road to being a singer/songwriter/guitarist. Van Morrison and David Gilmour have somehow maintained my high level of interest in the continuing process of musical development. Any perusal of my record collection would reveal a huge library of music and an eclectic taste from Bach to Zappa. One band you will not find in my collection is Abba.

Kush, When my daughter was still in the womb I used to play didgeridu regularly at close quarters. This was a deliberate action compared to singing and guitar playing which was more akin to being incidental. No I did not expose her to much Mozart before birth as some have been known to practise.

These days she is a science university student and her values are not that dissimilar to her parents but she does have her own agenda and ambitions unlike those of either parent.

Does this have anything to do with anything? Search me! but this thread somehow elicited this response.

Hoot, Witty Owl.

George.Wright · Post by **George.Wright** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 1:35 am

Good to hear from you Witt
I met Van the Man a couple of times
He is a grumpy wee git
At least you like the irish songwriters
Georges

magneticcry · Post by **magneticcry** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 12:36 pm

wow!?
i just can`t believe that my music-taste has so much to do with my personality...what if i like all kinds of really different music styles,then it means that i`m some multi-faced person ? or? but i know i`m not...how could this be explained?

witty_owl · Post by **witty_owl** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 3:47 pm

Hi George, yes this is not the first time that I have heard that Van can be a bit of a grump. Ah well - I still think his songwriting is awesome. Perhaps something of his character comes through the songs and appeals to the grump in me???

First time I heard "Astral Weeks" ~'71-'72 it blew my mind. "Hard nose the Highway" had me entranced for years.

Cheers, Witty Owl.