Personality and music: Can traits explain how people use music in everyday life?
2006/09/14 by Tomas Chamorro‐Premuzic, Adrian Furnham · 400 citations
Arts and Humanities · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Big Five personality traits #Cognition #Cognitive psychology #Developmental psychology #Diverse Music Education Insights #Everyday life #Extraversion and introversion #Music Therapy and Health #Music education #Music psychology #Neuroscience and Music Perception #Neuroticism #Personality #Psychology #Social psychology
paper · doi:10.1348/000712606x111177
published in British Journal of Psychology 98(2), 175-185 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 2006/09/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/26
Abstract
This paper reports the results of a study on the relationship between individual differences and specific uses of music, referring to why and how people use music in everyday life. Questionnaire data from 341 respondents showed that open and intellectually engaged individuals, and those with higher IQ scores, tended to use music in a rational/cognitive way, while neurotic, introverted and non-conscientious individuals were all more likely to use music for emotional regulation (e.g. change or enhance moods). Results suggest that individual differences in personality and cognitive ability may partly determine the way in which we experience music. Limitations and suggestions for future studies are discussed.
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