I'm a rebellious and artistic guy with mixed emotions and a limited sense of responsibility. That's what my iTunes playlist indicates, anyway -- at least, according to some newly released research. (The fact that it didn't include "irresistibly charming" in my profile, I assume, was a mere oversight.)
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have been studying how our musical tastes affect people's perceptions of us. They've found certain musical preferences consistently lead people to the same conclusions -- and, especially in our connected culture, we're constantly sending out clues.
"It is now common practice to list your favorite bands on sites like MySpace or Facebook," the study's lead researcher explains. "This research shows that in doing so, many of us are also making clear public statements of who we are and how we should be perceived, whether we are conscious of that or not." (That means you, Guy Who Thinks No One's Noticed "Womanizer" In His Pandora History.)
So what persona is your choice of aural pleasure portraying? Here are some of the study's conclusions:
- Rock music: You're rebellious, artistic, and emotionally unstable.
We conducted our own analysis to figure out what the presence of specific artists in your playlist tells outsiders. From the eSarcasm Smartass Lab:
- Songs by John Mayer: You're either (a) an overgrown frat-boy douche or (b) a horny teenage girl.
For more Geek Humor Gone Wild, visit eSarcasm. You'll be glad you did.