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The study found that musical preference is something that might change with time or mood, while musical taste is a long term trait. This source brings up the interesting comparison between music and personality with the Big Five personality characteristics; instead of making five main categories of music based on music, they are based on personality traits.
“The factor analysis revealed the presence of five major factors named as - Intense and Electronic; Devotional and Cultural; Emotional and Melodious; Spiritual and Reflective; and Contemporary and Rhythmic, underlying the 23 genres. Results showed that except for contemporary and rhythmic dimensions of music preference, all other music preference styles were related to one or the other personality dimensions.” (Upadhyay, Shukla, and Chakraborty 2017)
Instead of categorizing all musical genres into major genres based on the music, this study analyzed them and was able to categorize genres based on personality influences. They found that almost all genres were able to be connected to at least one of the personality dimensions described.
Peer pressure is a very common topic in research and discussion, and even music cannot escape the allure of good friends telling you to follow them. In their research and article, Miranda and Claes narrow down their study from all music genres to a set of four different rap genres, and they aim to determine the different effects of these genres on a group of 348 adolescents. It cites a different study that found that a preference for rap was related to antisocial behavior, lower academic achievement, and delinquency, but also states that this choice of music could also be a result instead of a cause (Miranda & Claes, 2004). Again, it could go either way depending on how it is looked at, but most of the time it is easiest to see how music preference is a result, not a cause, of personality and behavior differences.
It also brings up the influence that peer groups have, that they usually have similar music preferences, and that peer groups are the most important factor affecting adolescent behavior. People might also choose music to attempt to fit in or as a way of connecting with others in their situations. One study explores the common stereotypes surrounding many musical genres, and it seeks to determine if these stereotypes can be projected onto the individual who listens to that music. In one study, a recording was played, and the subjects had to answer various questions about the person making the music, even though their faces were never shown. People typically associated country music with rural, White areas, while they associated hip-hop with minority groups (Lastinger 2011). Stereotypes in music are very common, as many artists come up with ideas for song based on where they came from or based on people related to them. This results in many songs that are easy for certain groups of people to connect with, and for those who connect with violent songs, this could mean validation for more violent behavior. When they listen to their favorite songs and hear about all the things that the artist writes about, which includes drugs, violence, or something similar, they might be more motivated to repeat those actions. Many sources have so far lead to the conclusion that for the most part, it is music that is influenced by personality, but in this case, the view is the opposite. It has yet to be established clearly how choice of music actually has an effect on behavior, and it is best to first show how people can be influenced by music.
In their article, Sweeny and Wyber focus on the effects of music on shoppers and customers in different stores, but they also go into detail on the effects that certain aspects of music may have on a person’s behavior. The study investigated some core parts of music including tempo and genre, and it attempted to take into account the variance in different preferences for music that people have. It was conducted in a store where the variables changed were tempo (below 70 or above 126 BPM) and genre (top 40 or classical). This article argues that previous studies failed to account for musical preference, making it a unique and possibly more accurate study (Sweeny and Wyber, 2002). It found that significantly more people remained in the store for longer, bought more, and generally though the store was worth more money and time with classical music playing in the background. They spent less money and time inside if pop music was playing. Although it may seem fairly unrelated, this study demonstrates that people can be affected by music behaviorally, a crucial first part to the argument that it can lead to aggressiveness. None of the test subjects knew what the test was about, so they subconsciously decided to remain inside or leave, responding to the music without even thinking about it.
Pettijohn, Williams, and Carter focus on the different preferences for music that college students had during different times of the year and what that could mean. Their article cites other research finding that music is very important in the daily lives of many people, being found almost everywhere throughout the day. This is important in determining how much of an impact music might have, as finding it in more places likely will increase its influence. For adolescents and teenagers especially, music is everywhere. Teens will spend more time listening to music than anything else, even school, because it is easy nowadays to listen in many settings. Because of this, music will have the greatest effect on teens. The article also references how multiple stereotypes about music preferences have been confirmed by studies, such as how rock fans typically consume a lot of alcohol and drugs (Pettijohn, Williams, and Carter, 2010). This is an example of the influence of music affecting those who listen to it often. There are likely many rock fans who did not take part in the previously described activities, but did after a concert or gathering involving their favorite music. Large crowds at these sorts of events are the easiest way to influence others, especially adolescents in a crowd of their friends.
Another one of the primary influencers of music taste, besides friends, is family. An article by Bogt, Delsing, van Zalk, Christenson, and Meeus aims to find links between the preferences of parents and their children in music genres, including pop, rock, highbrow, and dance. Its study found that education was one link to one’s music taste, along with parental influence. Music preferences of parents could be used in many but not all cases to predict adolescent music preferences. For example, if the parents had an affinity for highbrow music, then their children likely would as well, but if the parents preferred rock music, only daughters seemed to be influences by this preference. Some of these connections are almost random, but in general, children are influenced some amount by the preferences of their parents. Family is one of the only groups that adolescents will spend more time with than friends, so it is easy for music taste to transfer. Family has the biggest initial impact in music choice, as children do not get much music experience outside of what their parents allow.
Finally, the link between certain genres of music and aggressive behavior can be established. An article by Bogt, Tom, Keijsers, and Meeus investigates the link between the preferred genre of music of adolescents and subsequent delinquency. Its study looked at different genres of music including different types of rock, some types of African American music, electronic music, conventional pop, and highbrow music. The results showed that those who preferred rock, African American, or electronic music were more likely to show elevated minor delinquency, while those who preferred pop and highbrow music showed no delinquency. It states, “Early music preferences emerged as more powerful indicators of later delinquency rather than early delinquency, indicating that music choice is a strong marker of later problem behavior” (Bogt, Tom, Keijsers, and Meeus, 2013). The effect of earlier music preferences rather than later ones places a greater importance on family, as they are more likely to be able to control what their child listens to and is exposed to. The specific results of the study are as follows:
“The results showed that early fans of different types of rock (eg, rock, heavy metal, gothic, punk), African American music (rhythm and blues, hip-hop), and electronic dance music (trance, techno/hardhouse) showed elevated minor delinquency concurrently and longitudinally. Preferring conventional pop (chart pop) or highbrow music (classic music, jazz), in contrast, was not related to or was negatively related to minor delinquency.” (Bogt, Tom, Keisers, and Meeus, 2013)
Many of these results are predictable based on the genres of music specified, but some, such as conventional pop, are somewhat surprising, as pop can have very similar themes and content. It is true that delinquency in young people likely stems from other sources as well and leads to certain music tastes. However, certain aspects and behaviors can be attributed to music at least somewhat.
In general, music can be used to predict to genre and style of music that someone prefers listening to. However, beyond that, it also can work the other way around and have effects on the personality of the person listening to it. Violent, antisocial themes and lyrics depicted in the favorite songs of teenagers or adolescents might lead them to replicate those actions. The reason why adolescents gravitate towards this type of music is not just one reason. Family has the biggest initial impact in music preference, as children are not exposed to much music outside of what their parents put on. However, adolescents and teenagers are strongly affected by peer pressure, so a few people listening to a song can influence a whole school to do the same. Adolescents’ gravitation towards this music is not something new; heavy metal was the popular genre for rebellion before the 2000s, and afterwards, rap gained more and more popularity. The influence of music is undeniable, even on the behaviors and personalities of people that listen to it.
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