A new study suggests that the emotional power of music may depend more on why a person listens than on their personality or background.
Researchers surveyed 2,137 people from 84 countries, aged 16 to 81. Each participant named a personally meaningful song, rated the emotions it brought up, and described how often they listened to music for seven different reasons: as background noise, to bring up memories, for fun, to feel the emotions in the music, to change their mood, to express who they are, and to feel connected to others.
Nearly 90% of participants reported feeling a mix of positive and negative emotions while listening to their chosen song. More than 30% gave the highest rating to at least one positive and one negative emotion at the same time. The researchers said this rate is higher than what has been found in other emotional contexts, such as watching a film.
Listening purpose mattered most
The reason for listening was the strongest predictor of emotional complexity. People who used music to recall memories, express their identity, or fully immerse themselves in the emotions of the music reported the richest, most layered experiences. People who listened mainly to distract themselves or shift their mood reported less emotional complexity.
Personality traits like conscientiousness and emotional stability did predict slightly lower emotional complexity, but the study said their influence was small compared to how people engaged with the music. Age also played a role, with older participants tending to experience less emotional complexity. Researchers suggested this may reflect a shift toward seeking more positive, uncomplicated emotional experiences with age.
Cultural background influenced emotional complexity, but only through how people listened. People with stronger individualistic tendencies, particularly those oriented toward personal achievement, were more likely to use music for self-expression and memory recall, which led to richer emotional experiences.
The study was one of the first large-scale efforts to examine what drives emotional complexity in music across cultures and individual differences. The research was published in the Journal of Research in Personality.
