Music Preferences and Your Personality

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPersonality and MusicBig Five Personality Traits and Musical PreferencesAge Also Plays a RoleCognitive Styles and Musical TasteMusic’s Psychological Functions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Personality and Music

Big Five Personality Traits and Musical Preferences

Age Also Plays a Role

Cognitive Styles and Musical Taste

Music’s Psychological Functions

Close

Tastes in music vary, and many people believe that the type of music that you love to listen to might actually reveal a lot about your personality. Not only can your musical tastes say something about your personality characteristics, but your traits may play a part in the type of music you are drawn to.

While it isn’t uncommon for people to make a connection between a person’s listening habits and their personal characteristics, the links between personality traits and musical taste have not been the subject of much empirical research.

However, some studies confirm that there may be some sort of connection—at least, to some degree. Others say not so much. Keep reading to learn more about what research says about the relationship between who you are and what you listen to.

Mere Exposure Effect: How Familiarity Breeds Attraction

Personality Traits and Musical Tastes

Do your preferences for certain genres of music indicate something about your personality? In one older study, researchers asked more than 36,000 participants worldwide to rate more than 104 different musical styles. They also filled outBig 5personality inventories and provided information about their favorite music.

The results indicated that personality and musical taste are indeed linked, but other individual differences factor in, too. Here are some of thepersonality traitsthe study linked to certain musical styles.

The study further suggests that people define themselves through music and use it as a means to relate to other people. This explains why people sometimes feel defensive about their taste in music: A criticism about their music feels like a criticism ofthem.

People can make accurate judgments about an individual’s levels of extraversion, creativity, and open-mindedness after listening to 10 of their favorite songs.

A 2018 study found that looking at people’s Facebook likes related to music could accurately predict some personality traits. The study found that:

A 2022 study found similar results in countries worldwide, suggesting that these connections between musical preferences and personality tend to be universal.

Researchers also suggest that rather than considering just a general musical style or genre, it’s more helpful to think about musical preferences in terms of three key elements: arousal, valence, and depth. Arousal refers to the intensity and energy levels of the music, valence refers to the type of emotional response the music evokes, and depth refers to intellectual and emotional complexity.

Punk, hard rock, and metal are high in arousal. Upbeat pop songs are high on valence. Classical and jazz music, for example, are considered high in depth.

According to this approach, people with Big Five traits tend to have the following preferences:

The research also found that, in general, people who like a wide variety of music tend to be more extraverted, agreeable, and conscientious. People who are higher in neuroticism tend to have less diverse musical tastes.

Evidence indicates that it isn’t just personality that plays a big role in shaping musical preferences—age also has an important effect. Musical tastes typically start to form right around adolescence, which is a time when people are also exploring and forming other important aspects of their social identity.

Researchers have found that people tend to prefer music that they loved during their teen years.It’s why those hits you used to love in high school tend to hit so hard, even decades later. Evidence has also found that people tend to recall the music they listened to during their teens and early adult years (from about age 10 to age 30) most easily.

Another study found that the music you enjoy might be connected to how your brain processes information. The researchers suggest that people have two ways of responding to the world: based on social cues (empathizing), and based on preset conceptions of how people think they should respond (systemizing).

Empathizers enjoy mellow but emotionally rich contemporary music ranging from indie rock to country to folk. Many have careers in the arts or helping professions and prefer soft music that evokes strong emotional responses.

In contrast, systemizers gravitated toward math and science. They were drawn to structural complexity, often liking classical, jazz, and world music and complex, intense, energetic, upbeat music.

Not all research supports the idea that personality traits play a role in determining musical preferences, however. One 2017 meta-analysis found that personality traits played very little of a role in accounting for these individual differences.

Music serves a range of psychological functions. In addition to its links to personality, research has found that music is also associated with:

People also engage in a range of musically related activities. These include listening to music, sharing music, playing instruments, singing in groups, writing lyrics, rapping, dancing, songwriting, and composing.

Different activities are associated with different benefits and effects. Listening to music, for example, can help reduce pain. Sharing music with others is a way to enhance social connection. Playing an instrument is connected to positive effects on mental well-being and cognitive function.

What Are Your Dominant Traits? Try Our Quiz

Our fast and freepersonality testcan help give you an idea of your dominant personality traits and how they may influence your behaviors.

This personality test was reviewed Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS

Takeaways

Researchers are still figuring out just how personality and musical tastes are connected, but the available evidence suggests that there is a universal connection between the music people enjoy and their personality traits. So, the next time you’re putting together a playlist for your commute or workout, consider how your personality might be reflected in your song choices. Try listening to styles of music that you don’t normally prefer; research suggests that this can have a lasting positive impact on the brain.

The Psychological Benefits of Music

11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.North AC.Individual differences in musical taste.The American Journal of Psychology. 2010;123(2):199-208. doi:10.5406/amerjpsyc.123.2.0199Nave G, Minxha J, Greenberg DM, Kosinski M, Stillwell D, Rentfrow J.Musical preferences predict personality: Evidence from active listening and Facebook likes.Psychol Sci. 2018;29(7):1145-1158. doi:10.1177/0956797618761659Greenberg DM, Wride SJ, Snowden DA, Spathis D, Potter J, Rentfrow PJ.Universals and variations in musical preferences: A study of preferential reactions to Western music in 53 countries.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2022;122(2):286-309. doi:10.1037/pspp0000397Greenberg DM, Kosinski M, Stillwell DJ, Monteiro BL, Levitin DJ, Rentfrow PJ.The song is you: preferences for musical attribute dimensions reflect personality.Social Psychological and Personality Science. 2016;7(6):597-605. doi:10.1177/1948550616641473Greenberg DM, Matz SC, Schwartz HA, Fricke KR.The self-congruity effect of music.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2021;121(1):137-150. doi:10.1037/pspp0000293Way SF, Gil S, Anderson I, Clauset A.Environmental changes and the dynamics of musical identity.Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media. 2019;13:527-536.Jakubowski K, Eerola T, Tillmann B, Perrin F, Heine L.A cross-sectional study of reminiscence bumps for music-related memories in adulthood.Music & Science. 2020;3:205920432096505. doi:10.1177/2059204320965058Greenberg DM, Baron-Cohen S, Stillwell DJ, Kosinski M, Rentfrow PJ.Musical preferences are linked to cognitive styles. Nusbaum H, ed.PLoS ONE. 2015;10(7):e0131151. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0131151Schäfer T, Mehlhorn C.Can personality traits predict musical style preferences? A meta-analysis.Personality and Individual Differences. 2017;116:265-273. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2017.04.061Dingle GA, Sharman LS, Bauer Z, et al.How do music activities affect health and well-being? A scoping review of studies examining psychosocial mechanisms.Front Psychol. 2021;12:713818. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.713818Wong PCM, Chan AHD, Roy A, Margulis EH.The bimusical brain is not two monomusical brains in one: Evidence from musical affective processing.Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 2011;23(12):4082-4093.Additional ReadingGreenbert, DM. Baron-Cohen, S, Stillwell, DJ, Kosinski, M, and Rentfrow. PJ.Musical preferences are linked to cognitive styles. PlosONE. 2015. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131151.North, AC.Individual differences in musical taste.The American Journal of Psychology. 2010; 123(2): 199-208. doi: 10.5406/amerjpsyc.123.2.0199.Schafer, T & Mehlhorn, C.Can personality traits predict musical style preferences? A meta-analysis.Personality and Individual Differences.2017 116: 265-273. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.04.061.Wong, PC, Chan, AH, Roy, A, and Margulis, EH.The bimusical brain is not two monomusical brains in one: Evidence from musical affective processing.J Cogn Neurosci.2011; 23(12): 4082-4093. doi: 10.1162/jocn_a_00105.Rentfrow PJ, Goldberg LR, Stillwell DJ, Kosinski M, Gosling SD, Levitin DJ.The Song Remains the Same: A Replication and Extension of the MUSIC Model.Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal. 2012;30(2):161-185. doi:10.1525/mp.2012.30.2.161.

11 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.North AC.Individual differences in musical taste.The American Journal of Psychology. 2010;123(2):199-208. doi:10.5406/amerjpsyc.123.2.0199Nave G, Minxha J, Greenberg DM, Kosinski M, Stillwell D, Rentfrow J.Musical preferences predict personality: Evidence from active listening and Facebook likes.Psychol Sci. 2018;29(7):1145-1158. doi:10.1177/0956797618761659Greenberg DM, Wride SJ, Snowden DA, Spathis D, Potter J, Rentfrow PJ.Universals and variations in musical preferences: A study of preferential reactions to Western music in 53 countries.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2022;122(2):286-309. doi:10.1037/pspp0000397Greenberg DM, Kosinski M, Stillwell DJ, Monteiro BL, Levitin DJ, Rentfrow PJ.The song is you: preferences for musical attribute dimensions reflect personality.Social Psychological and Personality Science. 2016;7(6):597-605. doi:10.1177/1948550616641473Greenberg DM, Matz SC, Schwartz HA, Fricke KR.The self-congruity effect of music.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2021;121(1):137-150. doi:10.1037/pspp0000293Way SF, Gil S, Anderson I, Clauset A.Environmental changes and the dynamics of musical identity.Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media. 2019;13:527-536.Jakubowski K, Eerola T, Tillmann B, Perrin F, Heine L.A cross-sectional study of reminiscence bumps for music-related memories in adulthood.Music & Science. 2020;3:205920432096505. doi:10.1177/2059204320965058Greenberg DM, Baron-Cohen S, Stillwell DJ, Kosinski M, Rentfrow PJ.Musical preferences are linked to cognitive styles. Nusbaum H, ed.PLoS ONE. 2015;10(7):e0131151. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0131151Schäfer T, Mehlhorn C.Can personality traits predict musical style preferences? A meta-analysis.Personality and Individual Differences. 2017;116:265-273. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2017.04.061Dingle GA, Sharman LS, Bauer Z, et al.How do music activities affect health and well-being? A scoping review of studies examining psychosocial mechanisms.Front Psychol. 2021;12:713818. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.713818Wong PCM, Chan AHD, Roy A, Margulis EH.The bimusical brain is not two monomusical brains in one: Evidence from musical affective processing.Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 2011;23(12):4082-4093.Additional ReadingGreenbert, DM. Baron-Cohen, S, Stillwell, DJ, Kosinski, M, and Rentfrow. PJ.Musical preferences are linked to cognitive styles. PlosONE. 2015. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131151.North, AC.Individual differences in musical taste.The American Journal of Psychology. 2010; 123(2): 199-208. doi: 10.5406/amerjpsyc.123.2.0199.Schafer, T & Mehlhorn, C.Can personality traits predict musical style preferences? A meta-analysis.Personality and Individual Differences.2017 116: 265-273. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.04.061.Wong, PC, Chan, AH, Roy, A, and Margulis, EH.The bimusical brain is not two monomusical brains in one: Evidence from musical affective processing.J Cogn Neurosci.2011; 23(12): 4082-4093. doi: 10.1162/jocn_a_00105.Rentfrow PJ, Goldberg LR, Stillwell DJ, Kosinski M, Gosling SD, Levitin DJ.The Song Remains the Same: A Replication and Extension of the MUSIC Model.Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal. 2012;30(2):161-185. doi:10.1525/mp.2012.30.2.161.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

North AC.Individual differences in musical taste.The American Journal of Psychology. 2010;123(2):199-208. doi:10.5406/amerjpsyc.123.2.0199Nave G, Minxha J, Greenberg DM, Kosinski M, Stillwell D, Rentfrow J.Musical preferences predict personality: Evidence from active listening and Facebook likes.Psychol Sci. 2018;29(7):1145-1158. doi:10.1177/0956797618761659Greenberg DM, Wride SJ, Snowden DA, Spathis D, Potter J, Rentfrow PJ.Universals and variations in musical preferences: A study of preferential reactions to Western music in 53 countries.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2022;122(2):286-309. doi:10.1037/pspp0000397Greenberg DM, Kosinski M, Stillwell DJ, Monteiro BL, Levitin DJ, Rentfrow PJ.The song is you: preferences for musical attribute dimensions reflect personality.Social Psychological and Personality Science. 2016;7(6):597-605. doi:10.1177/1948550616641473Greenberg DM, Matz SC, Schwartz HA, Fricke KR.The self-congruity effect of music.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2021;121(1):137-150. doi:10.1037/pspp0000293Way SF, Gil S, Anderson I, Clauset A.Environmental changes and the dynamics of musical identity.Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media. 2019;13:527-536.Jakubowski K, Eerola T, Tillmann B, Perrin F, Heine L.A cross-sectional study of reminiscence bumps for music-related memories in adulthood.Music & Science. 2020;3:205920432096505. doi:10.1177/2059204320965058Greenberg DM, Baron-Cohen S, Stillwell DJ, Kosinski M, Rentfrow PJ.Musical preferences are linked to cognitive styles. Nusbaum H, ed.PLoS ONE. 2015;10(7):e0131151. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0131151Schäfer T, Mehlhorn C.Can personality traits predict musical style preferences? A meta-analysis.Personality and Individual Differences. 2017;116:265-273. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2017.04.061Dingle GA, Sharman LS, Bauer Z, et al.How do music activities affect health and well-being? A scoping review of studies examining psychosocial mechanisms.Front Psychol. 2021;12:713818. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.713818Wong PCM, Chan AHD, Roy A, Margulis EH.The bimusical brain is not two monomusical brains in one: Evidence from musical affective processing.Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 2011;23(12):4082-4093.

North AC.Individual differences in musical taste.The American Journal of Psychology. 2010;123(2):199-208. doi:10.5406/amerjpsyc.123.2.0199

Nave G, Minxha J, Greenberg DM, Kosinski M, Stillwell D, Rentfrow J.Musical preferences predict personality: Evidence from active listening and Facebook likes.Psychol Sci. 2018;29(7):1145-1158. doi:10.1177/0956797618761659

Greenberg DM, Wride SJ, Snowden DA, Spathis D, Potter J, Rentfrow PJ.Universals and variations in musical preferences: A study of preferential reactions to Western music in 53 countries.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2022;122(2):286-309. doi:10.1037/pspp0000397

Greenberg DM, Kosinski M, Stillwell DJ, Monteiro BL, Levitin DJ, Rentfrow PJ.The song is you: preferences for musical attribute dimensions reflect personality.Social Psychological and Personality Science. 2016;7(6):597-605. doi:10.1177/1948550616641473

Greenberg DM, Matz SC, Schwartz HA, Fricke KR.The self-congruity effect of music.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2021;121(1):137-150. doi:10.1037/pspp0000293

Way SF, Gil S, Anderson I, Clauset A.Environmental changes and the dynamics of musical identity.Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media. 2019;13:527-536.

Jakubowski K, Eerola T, Tillmann B, Perrin F, Heine L.A cross-sectional study of reminiscence bumps for music-related memories in adulthood.Music & Science. 2020;3:205920432096505. doi:10.1177/2059204320965058

Greenberg DM, Baron-Cohen S, Stillwell DJ, Kosinski M, Rentfrow PJ.Musical preferences are linked to cognitive styles. Nusbaum H, ed.PLoS ONE. 2015;10(7):e0131151. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0131151

Schäfer T, Mehlhorn C.Can personality traits predict musical style preferences? A meta-analysis.Personality and Individual Differences. 2017;116:265-273. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2017.04.061

Dingle GA, Sharman LS, Bauer Z, et al.How do music activities affect health and well-being? A scoping review of studies examining psychosocial mechanisms.Front Psychol. 2021;12:713818. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.713818

Wong PCM, Chan AHD, Roy A, Margulis EH.The bimusical brain is not two monomusical brains in one: Evidence from musical affective processing.Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 2011;23(12):4082-4093.

Greenbert, DM. Baron-Cohen, S, Stillwell, DJ, Kosinski, M, and Rentfrow. PJ.Musical preferences are linked to cognitive styles. PlosONE. 2015. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131151.North, AC.Individual differences in musical taste.The American Journal of Psychology. 2010; 123(2): 199-208. doi: 10.5406/amerjpsyc.123.2.0199.Schafer, T & Mehlhorn, C.Can personality traits predict musical style preferences? A meta-analysis.Personality and Individual Differences.2017 116: 265-273. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.04.061.Wong, PC, Chan, AH, Roy, A, and Margulis, EH.The bimusical brain is not two monomusical brains in one: Evidence from musical affective processing.J Cogn Neurosci.2011; 23(12): 4082-4093. doi: 10.1162/jocn_a_00105.Rentfrow PJ, Goldberg LR, Stillwell DJ, Kosinski M, Gosling SD, Levitin DJ.The Song Remains the Same: A Replication and Extension of the MUSIC Model.Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal. 2012;30(2):161-185. doi:10.1525/mp.2012.30.2.161.

Greenbert, DM. Baron-Cohen, S, Stillwell, DJ, Kosinski, M, and Rentfrow. PJ.Musical preferences are linked to cognitive styles. PlosONE. 2015. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131151.

North, AC.Individual differences in musical taste.The American Journal of Psychology. 2010; 123(2): 199-208. doi: 10.5406/amerjpsyc.123.2.0199.

Schafer, T & Mehlhorn, C.Can personality traits predict musical style preferences? A meta-analysis.Personality and Individual Differences.2017 116: 265-273. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.04.061.

Wong, PC, Chan, AH, Roy, A, and Margulis, EH.The bimusical brain is not two monomusical brains in one: Evidence from musical affective processing.J Cogn Neurosci.2011; 23(12): 4082-4093. doi: 10.1162/jocn_a_00105.

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