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Heavy metal fans gentle souls at heart

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Published Date: 05 September 2008
HEAVY metal fans are gentle, indie music listeners lack self-esteem and lovers of pop music are uncreative, according to research by an Edinburgh professor.
The study on the links between personality and music taste has been conducted by Heriot-Watt University's Adrian North over the last three years.

He found that country and western fans are hard-working, rap fans are outgoing, and jazz and classical music supporters are innovative and bursting with self-confidence.

Contrary to the stereotype, heavy metal fans are gentle and at ease with themselves but they tend not to be hardworking.

Professor North's research into how music taste reflects personality and impacts on relationships is continuing.

He said: "We have always suspected a link between music taste and personality.

"This is the first time that we've been able to look at it in real detail. People do actually define themselves through music and relate to other people through it but we haven't known in detail how music is connected to identity."

More than 36,000 people around the globe took part in the survey, the biggest of its type conducted.





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1

elayne,

05/09/2008 12:07:50
i read this and laughed,i hope its not taken too seriously, i think people who like rock/punk/metal/alternative are usually pretty arty and think more about serious issues and those who are into kylie/x factor/mainstream stuff/girls aloud etc have to be part of a crowd and can be shallow but its really just a bit of fun
2

alex paterson,

edinburgh 05/09/2008 12:49:43
Adrian North,what have you been listening to,with a bottle in one hand,and a funny fag in the other.
3

Hector the Red,

05/09/2008 12:52:17
Utter tosh.....who funds these useless studies?
4

elayne,

05/09/2008 12:55:15
heriot watt university apparently
5

Edin,

05/09/2008 13:11:59
elayne, i listen to pop and watch x factor but that does not make me shallow or want to be apart of a crowd. I like x factor just because it is something easy watching on a sat night with your man and a glass of wine....
6

Reuldubh,

05/09/2008 15:24:37
A generalisations.... well Heavy Metal (and Jazz) do have in common with Classical music that they are difficult to play and I do know a few folk who like both. But Rap fans "high esteem and outgoing"??? They're the biggest chip on the shoulder, violent lot going????? And for "Chart Pop" shouldn't it just say thick?
7

SDRAWKCAB,

Edinburgh 05/09/2008 15:25:26
These things are a complete waste of time and money.

Edinburgh Uni: Lets apply for funding to do this research so we don't have to go and get real jobs.

Fund Manager: I'd much rather your researched cures for cancer or aids but i'll let this one slide.
8

Reuldubh,

05/09/2008 15:33:39
It wasn't carried out at Edinburgh Uni, it was Heriot Watt College..sorry "University".
9

elayne,

05/09/2008 17:30:37
#5 no offence but x factor is a lot o keech,although i admit the auditions are funny,give me iggy pop any day!
10

Boy Wonder,

05/09/2008 19:21:57
I have wide-ranging eclectic musical tastes (except for the execrable C & W) from classical to trance to (some) Rap. What does that say about me??

And you can just shut it, Mario, Alex, Chuckles, Jim A and the rest!!!!! :(
11

elayne,

05/09/2008 21:27:23
#12 your probably a balanced person if you like such a wide range of music(must admit c &w isnt my cup o tea either)
12

Calum Crubag,

06/09/2008 09:33:21
Did the research find out that most skinheads are gay?
13

Brodric,

06/09/2008 11:27:29
I wonder what being a researcher on useless social studies says about Prof North?

A hippy perhaps - or a lover of heavy metal, given that he says they are not fond of hard work.
14

Brodric,

06/09/2008 11:30:01
Boy Wonder - I think it means you are a Gemini with two faces (or more), a kind of split personality between the gentler arty side (cooking) and the intelligent humorous side (writing about it)

 

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