PhysMuse

Why Do We Like Certain Types of Music? The Psychology Behind Our Musical Taste

Music is universal, and ubiquitous in our society.

So why is it that we do not all like exactly the same music, the same sounds.

Why does something sound angelically beautiful to one person and causes another to itch with discomfort?

What is it that defines our musical tastes? Why do certain genres or styles of music see to resonate with our being, penetrate to our very soul as if they were part of us, and others are resigned to the trash can of life.

I thought that considering the book that I am currently reading, (paid link) Musical Emotions Explained by Patrik N. Juslin I would have a think and do some research of my own.

So, what have I come up with after a brief search of the Library of Alexandria and some limited conversations with the Oracle of Delphi at the Temple of Apollo – well, okay, Google?

Modern research in psychology and neuroscience reveals that our musical preferences are anything but random. They’re shaped by a blend of emotional history, personality, cultural exposure, and even the way our brains process sound.

What are the main forces that determine why we like the music we do?

• Music Connects to Emotion and Memory
• Our Early Environment Shapes What Feels Familiar
• Personality Plays a Role — But Not as Much as You Think
• Culture and Identity Shape What Music Means to Us
• The Brain Loves Patterns — and Each Genre Has Its Own
• Music Helps Us Regulate Emotion
• Biology and Evolution May Influence What We Like

These are apparently some of the reasons why we like the music that we do but…

Why Do We Like Certain Types of Music?

Because music is personal.

It is emotional, cultural, neurological, and autobiographical.  

We often hear the phrase the ‘soundtrack of my life’, we connect deeply with certain types of music and closely equate them with different parts of our life.

It is said that our musical preferences tend to reflect, in the main:

• Where we come from
• Who we are
• Our experiences
• How our brains are wired
• Who or what we aspire to be

So that is a summary of the things that I found out. It mostly makes sense that our musical tastes and preferences are related to the sum of our life experiences and knowledge, what we were exposed to as we were raised and so forth.

What types of music do you like, and why do you think that is?