Musical taste is related to the way we think and behave, a new study has claimed.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have published a new report analysing behaviours and how cognitive style has an impact on musical taste.
The study recruited 4,000 participants to put them through a series of different tests.
High empathy levels were correlated with preferences for mellow music such as R&B/soul and soft rock genres.
Those who enjoyed more intense music such as punk or heavy metal were more inclined to be systemisers, the sort of people who like to understand complex patterns or rules.
David Greenberg, study leader, said: ‘Although people’s music choices fluctuates over time, we’ve discovered a person’s empathy levels and thinking style predicts what kind of music they like.
‘In fact, their cognitive style - whether they’re strong on empathy or strong on systems - can be a better predictor of what music they like than their personality.’
Visit the Plos One website to find out more.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have published a new report analysing behaviours and how cognitive style has an impact on musical taste.
The study recruited 4,000 participants to put them through a series of different tests.
High empathy levels were correlated with preferences for mellow music such as R&B/soul and soft rock genres.
Those who enjoyed more intense music such as punk or heavy metal were more inclined to be systemisers, the sort of people who like to understand complex patterns or rules.
David Greenberg, study leader, said: ‘Although people’s music choices fluctuates over time, we’ve discovered a person’s empathy levels and thinking style predicts what kind of music they like.
‘In fact, their cognitive style - whether they’re strong on empathy or strong on systems - can be a better predictor of what music they like than their personality.’
Visit the Plos One website to find out more.
