Music Preference and the Five-Factor Model of the NEO Personality Inventory

Student subjects completed an updated version of Litle and Zuckerman's Music Preference Scale, a questionnaire measuring musical preference. They also completed the NEO Personality Inventory (Revised), a measure of the Five-Factor Model of personality. Factor analysis identified three patterns of preference associated with liking for most types of Rock Music, general Breadth of Musical Preference, and liking for Popular Music (such as easy listening). The three factors were employed as dependent variables in canonical correlations to examine relationships with personality. As predicted, most relationships with music preference involved the personality measures extraversion and openness. Extraverts obtained high scores on the Popular Music factor. Open individuals liked a wide range of music types. It was also found that females liked popular music styles more than did males. Particular personality "facets" were examined, as were the effects of musical training and interest. The research extends previous investigations relating preference and personality.

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