Running heading: MUSIC AND EXTRAVERSION 1

Music and Extraversion: The Effects of Tempo and Genre

Isabella Picon

University of Colorado Boulder

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Abstract

Music is a foundational part of life known to elicit emotional responses. Beyond temporary

emotions, it may influence personality without direct conscious awareness. This research

examines this relationship between music and extraversion through musical tempo. Specifically,

we looked at whether fast paced music (120-135 BMP) could increase extraversion, slow-paced

music (45-60 BPM) could low extraversion and if the genre of rock would affect this

relationship. Undergraduates (N = 500) were asked to wait in a room before meeting with their

advisor. A ten-song playlist of fast or slow-paced songs was played during their wait. They then

completed a Qualtrics survey of eight questions to measure their extraversion. We predict groups

who listen to fast-pace music will report higher levels of extraversion than the group listening to

slow-paced music and that rock will elicit extraversion regardless of tempo. This result would

suggest music and genre can be used to shape extraversion.

Keywords: Music, Extraversion, Tempo, Big

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Music and Extraversion: The Effects of Tempo and Genre

We as humans interact with music on daily basis with little to no knowledge on the effect

it has on our personality traits. Music has an ability to elicit strong emotional reactions. These

emotional responses can be directly related to the dimensions of personality- extraversion and

neuroticism- that are shaped by reactivity (Luck, Saarikallio, Burger, Thompson, &

Toiviainen, 2010). Personality states serve as an outcome of a momentary goal, such as

listening to music (Kira, McCabe, & Fleeson, 2012). The effect of music on personality is

vastly understudied with modern literature focusing on the effect personality has on music

preference rather than the inverse effect of music on personality itself. It is important to study

this interaction not only to have a better understanding of how the self is shaped, but to also

apply this knowledge to future cognitive treatments focused on increasing sociability and

enjoyment of other people (McCrae & Costa, 1987)

Past research with a focus on music and personality has explored music taste as a result

of pre-existing personality traits and found that there is a significant connection between these

two variables (Dollinger, 2008). Further examinations between personality and musical

preference has conveyed a positive link between extraversion and a preference for energetic-

rhythmic music such as rap or soul (Vella & Mills, 2016). This is emphasized by the known

correlation between displays of rhythm induced movement and the effect on personality, which

states that higher/ faster displays of movement (such as head bobbing) significantly effect

extraversion (Luck, Saarikallio, Burger, Thompson, & Toiviainen, 2010). Rhythm refers to

the placement of sounds in time, such as how quickly sounds and beats occur after each other in

music, while tempo refers to how quickly or slowly the beat is played overall. The tempo of

music is measured by beats per minute (BPM); creating an objective scale for music that

encompasses both speed and beat as well as relating these two together.
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In order to further explore research in this area, we ran an empirical research study with

a factorial design. This current study will focus on the effect that music tempo (IV) has on the

Big 5 personality trait of extraversion (DV). I believe that the genre of music will act as a

moderator on the effect tempo has on extraversion. Specifically, I believe that regardless of

tempo listening to rock music will make you more extraverted. It is expected that higher music

tempos (120-135 BMP) will increase extraversion in participates.

Method

Design

We conducted an empirical research study which utilized a factorial design. This study

tested the effect of Music tempo (IV) on the personality trait of extraversion (DV). The

independent variable was manipulated by subject group. A one-way anova was ran on the data in

order to interpret it.

Participants

The convenience sample for this study included 500 undergraduate

students at the University of Colorado Boulder who were all waiting for their counselor. The

participates were all of college age. They did not receive compensation for this study and did not

participate due to any other incentive.

Measures

We operationalized our categorical, independent variable (tempo) through measures of

beats per minute (BPM). We defined slow-tempo music by 45-60 BPM and fast-tempo music by

120-135 BPM. Two playlists defined by these tempos were created. They consisted of various

genres of music and were set to shuffle to decrease order effects. Two additional tempo-defined-

playlists consisting of only rock music were created to test our moderator. Our continuous,

dependent variable (extraversion) was operationalized by the Big 5 Likert scale (NEO-PI-R;
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Costa & McCrae, 1992). The scale was sectioned off in order to have it consist of questions

which only reflect extraversion (EX. I see myself as someone who… Is talkative- disagree

strongly, disagree a little, neither agree nor disagree, agree a little, agree strongly). Our tailored

scale consisted of 8 items total, with three questions reversed to check for response bias. Each

response was coded on a scale of 1-5 with 1 correlating to disagree strongly and 5 correlating to

agree strongly. The coding scale was reversed for reversed questions. The scores were added

together and averaged to create a measure of extraversion. A higher mean corralted to higher

extraversion. To administer this scale a Qualtrics survey was created

(https://cuboulder.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9LDcLY26Mz7IcS1)

Procedure

Participates were set into groups of 10 and asked to sit in a waiting room before meeting

with their counselor. A confederate to the study posed as an intern at the front desk and would

begin the waiting room music as they walked in. The playlist in question would either consist of

10 slow paced songs of a mixed genre, 10 fast paced songs of a mixed genre, 10 fast paced rock

songs, or 10 slow paced rock songs. The average time in the waiting room was about 20 minutes.

After the ~20 minutes, participates were asked to complete the 8 question Likert scale to measure

their extraversion. The average time to complete the survey was 10 minutes.

Results

A one-way anova would be run on the data to determine whether there is a relationship

between fast-tempo music and extraversion. I predict that the mean extraversion reported by

groups who listened to fast-tempo music (3>) will be higher than the mean reported groups who

listened to slow-tempo music (3<). The mean extraversion reported by groups who listened to

either slow or fast tempo rock (3>) will be similar to the reported extraversion of fast tempo

groups of a mixed genre. If the P-value is less than the significant value (.05) then there is less
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than a 5% chance a significant value was found when there is no real significance. A tukey test

method with 95% confidence would be run on the data to interpret which mean was significant.

This would separate my IV into group means which can then be compared. A letter is placed next

to each group. Groups who do not share a letter are significant

Discussion

I believe that listening to fast-tempo music increases extraversion in people while

listening to slow-tempo music decreases extraversion in people (thus increasing introversion).

This interaction is moderated by the genre of music playing. Specifically, rock music increases

extraversion regardless of tempo. Groups who listen to fast-tempo music will report higher

extraversion than groups who listen to slow-tempo music. The groups listening to slow-tempo

rock will report levels of extraversion similar to the groups listening to fast-tempo music. These

levels of reported extraversion would support my hypothesis by showing that the mean of

reported extraversion increased if the group is listening to fast tempos and decreased when

listening to slow tempos. If the group listening to slow-tempo rock and fast-tempo rock report

levels of extraversion similar to those listening to the fast-tempo music of any genre then that

would support the hypothesis that the genre of rock acts as a moderator on this interaction.

These results would support previous research that show a significant interaction between

music and personality. It is known that these variables correlate together, but my research and

results would provide new information on the inverse result of music effecting personality rather

than personality effecting music taste. This inverse result can be explained by defining the act of

listening to music as a momentary goal. This is due personality states being the result of

momentary goals (McCabe, & Fleeson, 2012). We are able to define listening to music as

momentary goal since listening to music elicits high emotional responses. Because high

emotional responses are an unconscious/ biological result that cannot be separated from music,
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the definition of a momentary goal cannot be separated from the act of listening to music either.

The experience of these emotions gets added to our semantic schema of self (where we define

who we are through memories and concepts) and therefore woven into our deeper personality.

The energetic rhythm of rock would explain why this genre acts as a moderator. Previous

studies linked listening to rock music to faster displays of rhythm induced movement. They then

correlated faster displays of rhythm induced movement to higher reports of extraversion (Luck,

Saarikallio, Burger, Thompson, & Toiviainen, 2010). My results would support the

connection between faster displays of rhythm induced movement and extraversion by explaining

the faster movement to both faster tempos and energetic rhythms (rhythms in which beats occur

more quickly per minute regardless of overall speed of the song).

Limitations and Future Directions

The convenience sample this study implicated provided a high number of participants but

increased bias due to the nature of the sample. Future studies should implicate a random

sampling method to increase the applicability of these results. Another limitation of the study has

to do with the setting of the study. Students who are waiting for their counselor know they are

about to engage with another human being and may be primed for sociability which would

increase extraversion. Later studies should manipulate this setting in order to account for outside

influences on extraversion. A pretest-posttest design would also be interesting to include so that

a gauge of participants natural extraversion could be measured and compared to their

extraversion after listening to the designated music tempos and genres.

Implications

My results would suggest that personality can be influenced by music. This would mean

that day to day we influence our personality in small ways subconsciously. If we could clearly

understand how this process works, we may be able to utilize this effect in certain cognitive
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treatments such as overcoming social anxiety or coping with depression. This would greatly help

those struggling but are against more chemical treatments such as medicines.
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References

Dollinger, S. J. (1993). Research Note: Personality and Music Preference: Extraversion and

Excitement Seeking or Openness to Experience? Psychology of Music, 21(1), 73–77.

McCabe, K. O., & Fleeson, W. (2012). What Is Extraversion For? Integrating Trait and

Motivational Perspectives and Identifying the Purpose of Extraversion. Psychological

Science, 23(12), 1498–1505.

McCrae, R. R., & Costa, P. T., Jr. (1987). Validation of a five-factor model of personality across

instruments and observers. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 81-90.

Vella, E. J., & Mills, G. (2017). Personality, uses of music, and music preference: The influence

of openness to experience and extraversion. Psychology of Music, 45(3), 338–354

Luck, G., Saarikallio, S., Burger, B., Thompson, M. R., & Toiviainen, P. (2010). Effects of

the Big Five and musical genre on music-induced movement. Journal of Research in

Personality, 44(6), 714-720.

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Appendix

The following eight questions make up the extraversion scale (ext_SCALE)

I see myself as someone who…

Is talkative (ext_1)

Disagree strongly, Disagree a little, Neither agree nor disagree, Agree a little, Agree Strongly

Is reserved (R) (ext_2)

Disagree strongly, Disagree a little, Neither agree nor disagree, Agree a little, Agree Strongly

Is full of energy (ext_3)

Disagree strongly, Disagree a little, Neither agree nor disagree, Agree a little, Agree Strongly

Generates a lot of enthusiasm (ext_4)

Disagree strongly, Disagree a little, Neither agree nor disagree, Agree a little, Agree Strongly

Tends to be quiet (R) (ext_5)

Disagree strongly, Disagree a little, Neither agree nor disagree, Agree a little, Agree Strongly

Has an assertive personality (ext_6)

Disagree strongly, Disagree a little, Neither agree nor disagree, Agree a little, Agree Strongly

Is sometimes shy, inhibited (R) (ext_7)

Disagree strongly, Disagree a little, Neither agree nor disagree, Agree a little, Agree Strongly

Is outgoing, sociable (ext_8)

Disagree strongly, Disagree a little, Neither agree nor disagree, Agree a little, Agree Strongly
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Figure 1

[Mean extraversion and music tempo]

Figure 1. The above figure displays the mean extraversion for all levels of the independent

variable. Mean extraversion is higher for groups who listen to fast-tempo music vs. Groups who

listened to slow-tempo music. We can see how the genre of rock effects those results by

increasing extraversion regardless of tempo.