The community based on the iPersonic personality test.

Music and personality

Music is very emotional - and an interesting topic when it comes to personality. We use to define ourselves through the music that we hear. So how about a correlation between music and personality? Here are some preliminary thoughts. (If you are just visiting the page, don't forget to take our free personality test!)

Pop Music is the music that sells best. We know that Realists represent almost 50% of the population. Doers cover another 23%. We have to assume that those types would prefer what we call mainstream music. Doers might prefer a more energetic version, probably Rock music.

Thinkers is a difficult one. I've learned from our discussions here at iPersonic that Thinkers use music to "disrupt" their thinking. I would suggest that Thinkers either analyze music (if they know about music, play an instrument etc.) or they use music to get away of their thinking. "Analytical music" could be Jazz, Classical music and Electro. Disruptive music could be Metal.

What about the Idealists? We have been talking about a spiritual approach of Idealists in our "Religion and personality types" discussion. All is one. World music could fit in there. Emotional, spheric and "esoteric" music also. And Folk music. Enya and Yann Tiersen ...

But there's more. Do you sometimes "slip into another personality" by listening to specific music? Listening to "energetic music" like "Harder Better Faster Stronger" from Daft Punk seems to take me from analytical thinking to individualistic doing ...

So, what music do you prefer? How does this correspond to your personality type? What role is music playing in your life?

Tags: music, personality test, personality type

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Yova on May 30, 2008 at 11:30am: it must be true that we, the doers, prefer "energetic" music, since I love extreme metal, which is probably the more energetic kind of music in the world ;); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Patrice on May 30, 2008 at 11:38am: Well, I like metal (like you already know) because I feel much energy in it. Of course, depending on the band. When I listen to such music like "Violence and Force" (in my playlist) then I think I change my character to... I don't really know which type it would be. Certainly more aggressive and sovereign, but not violent or something... it's not like I would beat up the next person I see. :-D But I think that's the part of my personality which comes up when I'm extremely enraged. I feel good when I'm in this "phase" and after this I fall back to my IT habits. It's like I can live out my second self. Just like a valve I can open with the music. Of course I also listen to other music: Electronica for example, but only selected Artist, such as Frank Klepacki. He creates really good tunes.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marcel Heyne on May 30, 2008 at 12:12pm: I must admit that I am a complete mess when it comes to music. I listen to World Music (Latin, Indian, Arabic, Spanish etc.), Jazz, Electro (Kraftwerk), Bob Dylan ...

I play guitar and somewhat the piano and I would say that I am quite an analytical listener. I am especially interested in rhythm patterns. That's why I might have a strong preference in World Music. It is fantastic to listen to the different rhythms throughout the world. And my Dreamy Idealist part might also enjoy that "all is one" feeling.

Jazz and Electro is also very analytical. I like Jazz, because in the end there's nothing left to analyze. The tune becomes the musicians personality. With all its facets. It is basically the same as with personality testing. You can make some categorizations, but in the end everybody is unique.

Electro is basically Kraftwerk for me. very structured, analytical. It's almost like computer programming.

Being an analytical listener I'm a bit into music theory. Some of you may have noticed the similarities between our iPersonic circle and the circle of fifths. Both are simple and beautiful structures ...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marcel Heyne on May 30, 2008 at 2:58pm: Very interesting! Bach stands for truely analytical music and without any doubt he was an AT himself. "Gödel, Escher, Bach" by Douglas Hofstadter tells some interesting stories about that. The book is anyway a good read for any AT. More about Bach and mathematics here and in this PDF.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marcel Heyne on May 31, 2008 at 9:19am: Oh, I must admit that I had no fun with maths in school, too ;-) Enjoyed it much more later ...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Yova on May 31, 2008 at 12:34pm: yep, so my Bach appreciation must come from my AT side ;); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marcel Heyne on May 31, 2008 at 12:54pm: Oh, then you both will love this one. Glenn Gould (yes, the guy from the Goldberg variations) talks about Art of fugue:; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by tania on June 8, 2008 at 12:17pm: Have you listened to John Surman - Portrait of a Romantic? If you like the early Genesis, I think you'll enjoy it... Tania; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ronnie Wolzinski on May 31, 2008 at 12:40pm: My music tastes reflect my sense of self.I am in some ways an idealist (a realistic idealist?) I like the best of all the types of music I give most music a try and find I can find really emotional quality in most genres.
Right now I have on my I Pod a mixture like this.....
Joni Mitchell,Herbie Hancock (doing Joni Mitchell),Maya Angelou (poetry),Luis Miguel,Johnny Cash,Frances Cabrel,The Three tenors (Rome),Richard Anthony (in English),Dire Straits,Neil Young,Amy Winehouse,Cesaria Evora,Slava,Ray Davies,and The Beatles,Khaja Nin (one song Sambolera)
Music is really great for the soul and for different moods. If anyone has any good ideas I'll give them a try.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vilia on June 2, 2008 at 7:03am: Interesting information, Marcel. I'm with you.
I prefer Jazz music, especially light jazz such as Norah Jones, Lisa Ekhdal, Diana Krall, Lisa Ono, Emi Fujita, Ken Hirai, or Maya Sakamoto. As what you said, at the end, there is nothing left to be analized and only the uniqueness matter. But I also love pop rock (I don't really know the genre), such as Mr.Big, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, and those kind of songs to energize me. :D

Btw I found lots of artists that I've never heard before mentioned in this topic. Very cool!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marcel Heyne on June 2, 2008 at 10:16am: If you love to discover music, you will love this site ... ;-)

Just play around a bit, it's fun. And beautiful.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vilia on June 3, 2008 at 12:43pm: OMG, Marcel!! Thank you very much! That is sooooo...... cool!!
I've tried it ans love it so much! Definitely will be bookmarked!; ▶ Reply to This