Music preferences can affect our feelings towards other people and our choice of a partner. Researchers found out that a man seeking a woman is usually quite attentive to how well their music preferences match. Though women are often less picky about music taste, they also find particular music preferences sexier. Our love for music can determine whether we will divorce or live happily together (check our previous post for more info).
Well then, why do we like particular music? And can we change these preferences? Let’s find out.
How do we perceive music in general?
While melomanes would say that some music genres are more sophisticated and demonstrate the skills of performers; average listeners would speak about the emotions that music can evoke; science stays more precise and less romantic.
Scientists say that we perceive music in a similar way as we understand speech. Listening to music is not only a nice experience for us but also hard work for our brain. While we chill out, the brain is engaged with emotional and rhythmic processing. A study by David Greenberg revealed that our brain type and thinking style have a direct influence on the music we like. In general, scientists distinguish 3 types of people:
- Empathizers or people who value thoughts and emotions;
- Systemizers who understand rules and systems better than others;
- Balanced or those who focus equally on thoughts and systems.
Empathizers usually prefer low-energy songs. They value emotional depth and can listen to sad songs and soft rock. Systemizers would rather choose structured tones, be it intense heavy metal or soft classical music. Balanced people have a more vague range of preferences and can act like two other types in different situations.
Another study focused on finding a link between music and personality types. Scientists found out that open and extroverted people like classics, blues, jazz, and folk. Their natural curiosity and the desire to explore makes them less rigid in music preferences.
If our personality is so linked with the music we love, it sounds natural that more and more dating apps are introducing music-sharing features. A man seeking a woman judging by her music taste (and vice versa) will actually find a person with a similar personality.
How can mood and memories affect our music preferences?
Have you noticed that sad thoughts often encourage us to listen to sad music? It can sound illogical, but people in depression also prefer sorrowful tunes. Somehow depressed people feel more relaxed if they don’t listen to upbeat music. Do they cling to their depression subconsciously? Scientists explored this phenomenon and found out that listening to sad music can increase prolactin and oxytocin levels in your blood. These hormones evoke feelings of calmness and relaxation, which is what depressed people are looking for.
Our memories can also affect music preferences. For example, the songs we listened to in childhood can evoke the feeling of safety and help us relax. Some music can remind us of our ex and hence can be painful after we break up with somebody. So, the worst first date scenario is when a man seeking a woman (or a woman looking for a man) turns on a romantic song that the potential partner associates with the previous relationship. It makes sense to check such things in a safe environment before a romantic day.
Do men and women hear music in a different way?
Though there is still no scientific proof that men and women understand music differently, you can sometimes hear a biased theory that women are more empathetic while listening and men have a more intellectual attitude. In fact, there is really some difference between men and women in terms of preferred music genres. Classic rock, alternative, rap, hip/hop, or heavy metal appeal to men. And the majority of women choose hip/hop, rap, alternative, classic rock, pop, and indie rock.
In addition, similar music tastes help the couple to develop a stronger bond. So, good advice for a man seeking a woman (or vice versa) is to check what music the potential partner likes and try to understand this genre.
Can you learn to love music that you hate?
If we all hear the same sound, we can learn to like a different music genre as well. Actually, scientists from Australia found out that people usually dislike music that they are less used to hearing. For example, music from a different culture can irritate you just because of the unfamiliar sound pattern. Our brain simply finds it hard to interpret, like foreign words.
However, if a person learns about the music structure and keeps listening to it over and over again, the brain starts to decode unfamiliar music. This means that the love for a particular music genre can be taught. So, if there is some man seeking a woman (or vice versa) with particular music preferences, he or she indeed can learn to love the favorite music of his/her bae.
Would you change your music preferences for the sake of love? Do you share music tastes with your soulmate?