Can You Taste Music?

Is music the most powerful way in which we express our personalities?

Does our musical tastes say more about who we really are than the clothes we wear or the friends we choose?

How much can you really learn about someone based on their favorite music?

We can’t deny that music speaks to us. We connect with music, we relate to its melodies, harmonies and lyrics.

And the powerful tune can invoke incredible emotions within us.

The psychological affective music and the human brain has been studied extensively. But what does your musical taste say about you?

Why we like certain genres? Most people find themselves listening to one
or two genres almost exclusively. But have you ever stopped to wonder why you
might be attracted to pop, or metal or classical?

A number of studies have examined this interesting subject with incredible results. Do you like complex music like jazz or classical?

According to certain studies you might be more creative or have a higher IQ. Pop music lovers tend to be extroverted and honest.

If you like rap music, you probably pretty outgoing. Country music fans are usually pretty conventional and hardworking.

And metal heads tend to be more introverted and could even suffer from low self-esteem. Every single music genre says something about our personalities.

Why is certain music more nostalgic than others? One of the most powerful emotions that music can evoke is nostalgia.

A simple track can bring back tones of incredible memories, both joyful and sad. Suddenly, music flings us back in time to a forgotten moment in our lives.

But what causes this?  Why does some music seem more nostalgic than others?

An interesting 2010 study found that autobiographical music was most likely to cause nostalgic emotions. Or in other words, music that involved a real-life
story from the perspective of the singer. Even more interesting was the fact that music with mixed emotions caused the most nostalgia.

Specifically a mixture of joy and sadness. Perhaps this is because in reality life itself contains a mixture of both joy and sadness. Hey, before we continue to the next point, we’d like to connect with some of you who currently play music.

Tag Psych2Go in your video, we watch all of them and even feature the best ones in Anyway, let’s get back to the next point about
music facts.

Why does some music give us the shivers?

Have you ever experienced a truly powerful piece of music?

Was it so powerful that you found yourself getting the shivers?

Did Goosebumps start to appear along your arms?

If so, you’re not the only one, this is a pretty common experience. But why does some music evokes such a powerful physical reaction in us?

A 2010 study set out to answer this question, and they found the people who are more open to new experiences were more likely to experience
shivers when listening to music. You’re also more likely to have this powerful
reaction if you listen to tons of music throughout each day.

Funnily enough, the study found that it doesn’t really matter which genre you’re listening to.

Why do some people love bass?

The heavy booming nature of bass is a big part of popular music these days.

Some people absolutely love bass and this musical element seems to affect them in a deep way.

But why are some people so crazy about bass? One study found that males are more likely to enjoy heavy bass in music.

There’s even some suggestion that those who enjoy bass are more likely to have antisocial tendencies and borderline personality disorders. But these are of course very rare cases and correlation doesn’t always equal causation.

Why athletes love “pump up” music. There’s definitely a very specific type of
music we listen to at the gym; it’s usually vigorous pump up music with high
BPM that gets us motivated and excited. But why does this music seem to be so fitting for athletic activity?

One study found a link between our music preferences and our ideal self-image. Basically people prefer music that they think is most fitting to their own perception of themselves.

Athletes love vigorous music because they feel it fits with their dynamic lifestyle and persona.

Why teens love heavier music?

We’re all familiar with that one stereotype of the angsty teen who love heavy metal. And sometimes the stereotype is a reality for many teens. But have you ever wondered why some teens seemed drawn to heavy metal and heavier genres in general?

One study looked into this and found something very interesting. Apparently, teens with this music preference are more likely to feel rejected and have low self-esteem.

Although once again, this doesn’t mean that everyone who enjoys metal or heavy genres has these issues.

Why some people like repetitive music?

Most of the time repetitive music is generally seen as a bad thing, but some music with repetitive elements can be calming, meditative and relaxing. But why do some people prefer a repetitive music?

Some studies have suggested that those who are less open to new experiences might be more likely to enjoy repetitive music. We’re not saying there’s anything wrong with either repetitive music or being less open to new experiences.

Some people are just naturally more conservative and there’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s definitely an interesting tidbit of information that sheds light on the link between musical tastes and personality.

What kind of music are you into?