Exploring the links between personality and media preferences

Abstract Personality characteristics (extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism) and media preferences (prime-time television programs, contemporary movies, and popular music) were assessed for 119 male undergraduates using a questionnaire. The findings revealed considerable correspondence between the respondents' predominant personality characteristics and their media content preferences. For example, respondents scoring high on neuroticism expressed a strong preference for information/news television programs and “downbeat” music while tending to avoid more lighthearted comedy and action/adventure fare. Those scoring high on psychoticism, on the other hand, evidenced significantly less interest in comedy offerings but displayed a strong preference for graphically violent horror movies. Further, media preference profiles that successfully discriminated between different levels of neuroticism and psychoticism were identified. Some implications of these findings for future research on media selection and use effects are discussed.