personality type & music preferences
As I rode on the bus home today listening to my iPod, eyes closed, carefully listening to the subtleties of Phoenecia’s Brownout, it occurred to me that most of the music I listen to nowadays probably isn’t meant to be simply enjoyed aesthetically, but rather analyzed to a certain degree. In other words, I find myself enjoying experimental, textural music more than head-bopping bubblegum pop music. And so I got to wondering about the relationship between personality types and musical preferences.
According to the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, I am an INTP which tends to be somewhat analytical. Does my musical preference (technical, analytic, experimental) reflect my personality, or is my approach to music simply a reflection of my personality type?
I did a some searching on the internet for a study with data comparing personality types and musical preferences. I didn’t find anything.
So here’s an informal survey. If you happen to know your MBTI personality type, please leave a comment with your MBTI type and the genre of music you listen to most frequently. I’ll start:
INTP: experimental electronic music
(As an aside, I’d also be interested in some info comparing education level and music preference, just to see if there’s a connection.)
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I’d think it would, as you say, you listen carefully and almost analyze the experimental/electronic music you listen to. Your opinion on the more simplistic, yet more emotionally set, “bubblegum pop” music, as you call it, shows through with exteme clarity, which most likely pertains to your anilitical type. Though I’m not a big “bubblegum pop” fan myself, I do lean towards music based more on emotion then comlicated and experimental textures and arrangements. What I’m personaly into, and what I feel to be very fulfilling, are certain types of rock music… namely and most specifically Alternative Rock, Grunge, and Hard rock. I like them because of the emotion that can be so well portrayed through them. I also definately prefer more of a dreamy, mysterious, or even dark tone to my music rather then something overly happy or superficial. Blunt cockiness and concededness in rap-like music also makes me sick, though, I respect any musician who has made it for their efforts(well… kinda). Anyways, My MBTI type is INFP.
I’m currently an INFP. I’m kind of all over the board music-wise. Some days it’s ‘experimental electronic’, other times dub, other times ska, other times blues, other times folk, so on and so forth.
I tend to look more analytically at electronic music but from a emotive side. I’m more attached to Richard D. James than something by Richard Devine. So while I look at it’s sympathetic side, i’m looking to understand how it works, how it’s composed and how it’s affecting me the way it does.
INTP
Hate profoundly with passion: country, soul
Hate (tolerate on dancing floor after large ammounts of alcohol): rap, pop
tolerate: dance
Like (dont possess generally): blues, jazz
Like alot: classical, all forms of metal
Listen on regular basis: Power metal
Unfortunately I am not ready to classify other music types.
ENFP: I am very eclectic, especially when it comes to music, so there really isn’t anything I hate with a passion. My top-rankers would have to be classical and alternative rock. I love the melody and the lyrics seem to speak to me more. I don’t have an affinity for the utterly sweet, ‘bubblegum pop’ as you put it and the lyrics are too condesending for my taste. Of course, I have to recommend the Gregorian chants: simple, clean, and ancient, and the Trans- Siberian Orchestra: classical meets bed-wetting guitar solos! And I never pass up an opportunity to listen to techno and j pop (although, I find Japanese goth to be, more so, delightfully disturbing). Like I said, I really just love music itself, in any form!
INTP
i like agressive house music, and 70’s music or pop with a nice melody in it.
i don’t like blues and jazz (sorry Roger…)
i hate country also.
INTP
I was wondering if there was a correlation between musical preference and the myers briggs personalities, and thus, the reason why I came across this website. I have very eclectic taste in music, but I particularly like music with a lot of bass and obscure lyrics. I don’t like whiny, emotional, or cliched lyrics. I generally despise ’80s metal and emo or screamo. And it has also been brought to my attention recently that I don’t like harmonics or music with tenor singers.
As an xNTP (neither E nor I, despite the MBTI literature!), I like all types BUT rap … but a rather low tolerance of country. As I consider it, my preference is toward either music which is relaxing (without being repetative!), or music which is compelling or “interesting”, without being compulsively “agitating”. All depends on what I “need” at the time.
I also have looked for research on relation between MBTI and music preferences. There have been some (look at ICMPC conference material) relating to either “Listening” and MBTI, or between music professionals and MBTI … however, in that latter category, there seems to have been little which includes the professional’s musical genre preference and their MBTI.
INTJ
I can listen to about anything (aside from Country/Gangsta Rap) above all it has to be intelligent! Most of the time you’ll find me listening to Experimental Electronic music such as Aphex Twin, Autechre, Plaid, etc. Also like Vocal Trance quite a bit as well.
Occasionally listen to Folk when I’m feeling mellow.