You Can Usually Tell How Smart Someone Is By Their Favorite Type Of Music, Says Study
Design: YourTango | Photo: Karola G from Pexels, CanvaMusical taste may give insights into someone’s personality and taste, but what about intelligence? A new study sought to answer that very question and actually found that a person's everyday music might actually reveal how intelligent they are.
The study used a novel approach to show that higher intelligence is associated with the type of music people listen to, using participants' digital footprints and intelligence-testing tools accessed through an app. The researchers followed 850 participants aged 18-65 and found that listening to a particular type of music will not suddenly make you smarter; rather, smart people tend to have particular musical tastes.
Researchers stressed that there is a link between intelligence and the type of music people listen to, but it's not in the rhythm or bass; it's the lyrics that are the true marker for intelligence.
Study finds you can usually tell how smart someone is by their favorite type of music:
People who prefer sad lyrics and 'less positive emotional tones' usually have higher IQs.
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A song like Adele’s “Someone Like You” tells of heartbreak and the acceptance of lost love. It may bring a tear to your eye to listen to the melodic, aching tones she sings, and more often than not, the song will touch listeners deeply.
According to the study, listeners become more introspective about life in general when hearing sad lyrics. Psychologists call this intrapersonal intelligence. “Intrapersonal intelligence is the ability to recognize and understand your thoughts, feelings, and motivation. It involves gaining self-awareness through introspection, self-reflection, and insight. This form of intelligence allows people to plan, make decisions, and pursue goals effectively.”
I had to bring my mom to weigh in on this one because she is a huge Adele fan. When I asked her what it is about Adele’s lyrics to "Someone Like You" that she liked, she responded, “Because she sings what we think… her stuff is spooky.” The lyrics made my mom think about her own life.
People who prefer lyrics focused on home-related content usually have higher IQs.
A familiar song with that kind of focus might be “Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver. The lyrics of this song express a deep longing to return to the familiarity of your roots, evoking feelings of homesickness and nostalgia.
According to the study results, “more intelligent individuals tend to use music less for social or emotional purposes.” They find personal meaning in songs that have lyrics related to home life.” Meaning making refers to the process by which individuals construct or derive meaning from their experiences, interactions, and the world around them.”
People who prefer songs with 'present-focused lyrics' usually have higher IQs.
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Present-focused lyrics emphasize the current moment. An example of this is “Happy” by Pharrell Williams.
The lyrics do not reflect upon the past or anticipate the future. Instead, the lyrics emphasize the current moment: “because I'm happy.” What this means for intelligent music listeners is that they reflect “more decisive or analytically oriented engagement with music.”
You can take your pick of the many other songs that have present-focused lyrics, like Aaliyah’s “Rock the Boat”. These are songs that focus on being in the zone and the immediate situation, creating mindfulness.
Of course, like with all things, these lyrical preferences are just a snapshot into cognitive function. As lead researcher, Larissa Sust told PsyPost, “While music listening alone provides only limited information, combining multiple types of digital behavior (e.g., what books people read, what places they visit) in the future might make such predictions more accurate and could eventually support adaptive digital tools or early detection of cognitive decline.”
So, if you've got an upbeat playlist that you like to put on when you're working out, that doesn't mean you are less intelligent because you aren't listening to something more somber and sad. You've got to factor in everything from age to what you're experiencing in the moment.
Laura Lomas is a writer with a Master’s degree in English and Creative Writing who focuses on news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics.
