Whether you’re swaying to soulful Sufi, headbanging to rock, humming along to pop, or losing yourself in the intricacies of classical or hip hop, your music choices are far more than mere background noise. Your go-to genres could well be a window into your personality, emotions, and state of mind. On World Music Day , experts weigh in on what your listening habits might be telling you about you.
Your playlist reflects your personality
There’s no one-size-fits-all rule, but certain genres are often tied to common personality traits. “Heavy genres may appeal to those in emotionally intense life phases,” expresses Kiara Jain, a lifestyle coach, adding, “Whereas instrumental music may be preferred by people who are more agreeable and calm. Pop fans, on the other hand, are often highly social and extroverted.”
Supporting this view and citing a 2020 Delhi University study, Kshama Dwivedi, a Bhopal-based psychologist, says, “Extroverts frequently favour fast-paced, high-energy music like Bollywood or Punjabi tunes, while introverts lean towards softer, more introspective sounds like ghazals, classical music, or instrumentals.”
The psychology behind musical choices
From soothing ghazals to bold rock anthems, the music we choose says far more about us than we often realise. Kshama adds, “It can reflect our emotional states, social selves, internal struggles, and phases of life… The tunes we choose are also influenced by our mood — uplifting beats when we’re low, mellow tracks when we wish to reflect.”
The experts state that sad music doesn’t always intensify sadness—it can help people process complex emotions.
Music reflects the mind
A carefully curated playlist can lift your spirits, offer emotional comfort, and even reveal key aspects of your personality. “Music holds a unique power to evoke emotion, memory, and healing,” says Saarika R, a Bangalore-based psychologist. Explaining it further, she shares, “From a psychological perspective, our listening patterns — whether it’s playing the same track on repeat or curating late-night playlists — can offer deep insight into our mental state and emotional needs.”
According to Saarika, repetition in music listening is often linked to emotional resonance. “When individuals return to a particular song, they are often reconnecting with the emotions tied to it. This is especially evident in how nostalgic tunes — like the Doordarshan jingle or the Hamara Bajaj ad — can transport a listener back in time, allowing them to momentarily relive past versions of themselves,” she adds.
Changing playlists reflect a changing you
As we grow, our music preferences shift, often reflecting internal changes. “Shifts in music preference can reflect changes in life stages, personality, or emotional growth,” Saarika explains. “A transition from high-energy music to more introspective genres may indicate a psychological shift — perhaps a period of reflection, healing, or maturity.”
Kiara Jain, lifestyle coach, agrees. “When a teenager is in their rebel phase, aggressive lyrics in hip hop or rap may help them form their identity. As they grow older, they may prefer the softer tones of country or jazz, which suit their calmer lifestyle.”
Your social life shapes your soundtrack
While personality plays a key role, our social surroundings and upbringing also shape musical preferences. Kiara shares, “Our environment plays an important role. Cultural expectations around being mature may lead people to opt for instrumental music in public, while privately their taste may be entirely different.”
Friendship and peer groups, too, can influence our playlists. “If a friend introduces you to a particular genre and constantly listens to it, you may end up developing a taste for it as well,” Kiara adds.
WHAT RESEARCH STUDIES REVEAL
- A study of 70,000 people across 36 countries found that shared music preferences reflect personality traits and enhance romantic compatibility, especially among empathetic and open individuals
- “Music at the very beginning stages of dating or meeting someone can help the ‘getting to know you’ process,” says David Greenberg, a research associate at the University of Cambridge, to The Guardian
- According to a three-part study conducted a few years ago, close to 75% of listeners believe their Spotify Wrapped or Apple Music Replay reflects their personality, with many viewing it as a digital diary and even factoring it into dating decisions.
Your playlist reflects your personality
There’s no one-size-fits-all rule, but certain genres are often tied to common personality traits. “Heavy genres may appeal to those in emotionally intense life phases,” expresses Kiara Jain, a lifestyle coach, adding, “Whereas instrumental music may be preferred by people who are more agreeable and calm. Pop fans, on the other hand, are often highly social and extroverted.”
Supporting this view and citing a 2020 Delhi University study, Kshama Dwivedi, a Bhopal-based psychologist, says, “Extroverts frequently favour fast-paced, high-energy music like Bollywood or Punjabi tunes, while introverts lean towards softer, more introspective sounds like ghazals, classical music, or instrumentals.”
From soothing ghazals to bold rock anthems, the music we choose says far more about us than we often realise. Kshama adds, “It can reflect our emotional states, social selves, internal struggles, and phases of life… The tunes we choose are also influenced by our mood — uplifting beats when we’re low, mellow tracks when we wish to reflect.”
The experts state that sad music doesn’t always intensify sadness—it can help people process complex emotions.
Music reflects the mind
A carefully curated playlist can lift your spirits, offer emotional comfort, and even reveal key aspects of your personality. “Music holds a unique power to evoke emotion, memory, and healing,” says Saarika R, a Bangalore-based psychologist. Explaining it further, she shares, “From a psychological perspective, our listening patterns — whether it’s playing the same track on repeat or curating late-night playlists — can offer deep insight into our mental state and emotional needs.”
According to Saarika, repetition in music listening is often linked to emotional resonance. “When individuals return to a particular song, they are often reconnecting with the emotions tied to it. This is especially evident in how nostalgic tunes — like the Doordarshan jingle or the Hamara Bajaj ad — can transport a listener back in time, allowing them to momentarily relive past versions of themselves,” she adds.
Changing playlists reflect a changing you
As we grow, our music preferences shift, often reflecting internal changes. “Shifts in music preference can reflect changes in life stages, personality, or emotional growth,” Saarika explains. “A transition from high-energy music to more introspective genres may indicate a psychological shift — perhaps a period of reflection, healing, or maturity.”
Kiara Jain, lifestyle coach, agrees. “When a teenager is in their rebel phase, aggressive lyrics in hip hop or rap may help them form their identity. As they grow older, they may prefer the softer tones of country or jazz, which suit their calmer lifestyle.”
Your social life shapes your soundtrack
While personality plays a key role, our social surroundings and upbringing also shape musical preferences. Kiara shares, “Our environment plays an important role. Cultural expectations around being mature may lead people to opt for instrumental music in public, while privately their taste may be entirely different.”
Friendship and peer groups, too, can influence our playlists. “If a friend introduces you to a particular genre and constantly listens to it, you may end up developing a taste for it as well,” Kiara adds.
WHAT RESEARCH STUDIES REVEAL
- A study of 70,000 people across 36 countries found that shared music preferences reflect personality traits and enhance romantic compatibility, especially among empathetic and open individuals
- “Music at the very beginning stages of dating or meeting someone can help the ‘getting to know you’ process,” says David Greenberg, a research associate at the University of Cambridge, to The Guardian
- According to a three-part study conducted a few years ago, close to 75% of listeners believe their Spotify Wrapped or Apple Music Replay reflects their personality, with many viewing it as a digital diary and even factoring it into dating decisions.
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