The Taste in Music - Essay Example

The type of music one listens to has no connection to their character or personality. However, this is not entirely true. This is because deep down it is known that the taste in music is not just necessarily a reflection of one’s musical preference, but also a deep insight into the very essence of who a person is. Music can be viewed as an art of thinking with the help of sound. Although it has long been suspected that music and personality are deeply entwined, in recent years, science has delved into the relationship and shown how significant an individual's musical preference is. According to (Carducci 311) the type of music an individual listens has a reflex action on the type of personality an individual develops.

Impact of Music on Character
The unique thing about music is not just the beats and the tempo or the rhythm but the words that a songwriter chooses to work with. The words involuntarily change the thoughts of the listener.

An individual listening to a particular type of music is likely to absorb the same passion and long exposure to the music, they develop characters based on the same passions. Based on this understanding, then the music people listen to is contributing to many issues in society. If the type of music an individual listens to can shape their character as well as passions, then it means that these effects will also be seen in human relationships, laws, and psychological challenges such as depression as well as anger.

Characters related to common types of music
An article by (Mic 2) shows the relationship between different types of music and the characters/personalities of the individual who listen to that particular music. Below is a summary;
Jazz, classical, blues, and folk listeners
People who mainly listen to these types of music tend to show high levels of openness to new experiences, high verbal ability as well as emotional stability. These individuals also believe that they are highly intelligent and tolerant. The majority of them can champion liberal social ideals.
Country, soundtracks, pop, and religious listeners
The majority of them are political conservatives and they also tend to be extroverted, conscientious as well as agreeable. They find themselves physically attractive, just like the pop stars they celebrate. These also show signs of low levels of emotional stability.

Rock, alternative, and heavy metal listeners
These individuals are tough, driven and generally have a strong desire to dominate and rule over those they consider as being lesser. These listeners are also extroverted and believe that they are extremely intelligent.
Hip-hop, soul, funk, electronica, and dance listeners
These listeners tend to be extroverted, athletic, politically liberal, and attractive. They tend to forgive instead of exploiting the faults of their offenders.

Conclusion
The type of music people listen to has a greater impact on an individual’s character and personality. In understanding this, it is therefore relevant to be selective in the kind of music one listens to and to be more specific, the lyrics and the culture associated with a genre of music. The influence is equally carried by the different artists as their lifestyles may also impact the listeners. The majority of the artists and musicians will write about the issues surrounding their lives and their experiences. Depending on how the musician lives, they can transform the same to the listeners. This is very important, especially to young children who are still developing their characters and trying to discover themselves.