The Link Between Music and Personality: New Research Expands Understanding

Music is an art form that has always been considered able to speak to our emotions, but new research suggests that it may also be able to give us insights into our personalities. According to an article in PLOS ONE, conducted by a team of researchers from Oxford University, our musical preferences may reveal how our brains process information and how we respond to different situations.

The study surveyed 4,500 participants through apps on Facebook and Amazon to identify two types of personality: the empathisers, who are more emotional, caring, and sympathetic, and the systemisers, who are more logical, analytical, and objective. The researchers found that empathisers generally prefer music that is low on arousal and has emotional depth in the lyrics and themes. This often means soft rock, easy listening, and adult contemporary music. Systemisers, in contrast, tend to enjoy more high-energy music, like punk, heavy metal, or hard rock music, with a thrilling or strong beat.

While people may exist on a spectrum between empathisers and systemisers, the researchers’ findings suggest that music can give us valuable insights into our brains and how we process daily life. For example, people who prefer Top 40 pop music may exhibit more extroverted traits, while those who prefer more reflective, emotional music may be more empathetic.

Interestingly, the study identified specific songs that are associated with empathy and systemising. For empathisers, some examples include “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley, “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones, “All of Me” by Billie Holiday, and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen. Systemisers tend to prefer pieces like “Concerto in C” by Antonio Vivaldi, “Etude Opus 65 No 3” by Alexander Scriabin, “God Save The Queen” by The Sex Pistols, and “Enter the Sandman” by Metallica.

The research suggests that our musical preferences can even have practical applications, such as training ourselves to be more empathetic and kinder people by listening to music that resonates with these traits. To determine which category you fall into, consider questions like whether you often listen to the lyrics of music or whether you are moved by charity advertisements on TV.

Overall, the study highlights the fascinating intersection between music and psychology. As this area of research continues to develop, we can expect to gain further insights into the connections between our brains, personalities, and the music we love.