Music Preferences and Personality in Brazilians

• Published in: Frontiers in psychology 2018-08, Vol.9, p.1488-1488
• Main Authors: Herrera, Lucia, Soares-Quadros, Jr, João F, Lorenzo, Oswaldo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: age; Brazil; gender; music preference; personality; Psychology
• ISSN: 1664-1078; 1664-1078
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01488

This article analyzes the relationship between musical preference and type of personality in a large group of Brazilian young and adult participants ( = 1050). The study included 25 of 27 states of Brazil and individuals aged between 16 and 71 years ( = 30.87; = 10.50). Of these, 500 were male (47.6%) and 550 were female (52.4%). A correlational study was carried out applying two online questionnaires with quality parameters (content-construct validity and reliability), one on musical preference and the other on personality. The results indicate four main findings: (1) the musical listening of the participants is limited to a reduced number of styles, mainly Pop music and others, typical of Brazilian culture; (2) the Brazilian context supposes a determining aspect in the low preference of non-Brazilian music; (3) there is a positive correlation between most personality types analyzed and the Latin, Brazilian, Classical and Ethnic musical styles. A negative correlation between these types of personality and the consumption of Rock music was also observed; (4) musical preferences are driven not only by personality but in some cases they are also driven by socio-demographic variables (i.e., age and gender). Likewise, this work shows how participants make use of music in personality aspects that may be of interest for the analysis of socio-affective behavior (personality) as well as according to different socio-demographic variables (e.g., age and gender). More cross-cultural research on musical preference and personality would need to be carried out from a global perspective, framed in the context of social psychology and studies of mass communication.