Music tastes and Intelligence...A link has been found.

[Raven's Nest]

I read in the newspaper today, that a statistical survey conducted by Virgil Griffith has shown there could be a link between music and intelligence.

When analysing US students S.A.T results and their favourite musical artists a link as to which bands/artist's are more likely to appeal to smart people and which are more likely to appeal to less smart people has been found.

As a British guy, I don't know the equivalent scores in my country but the results it seems, speak for themselves.

The rather large graph in the link below reads from left to right according to the average SAT score of students from across 1,352 different schools.

Too big an image to post. [http://musicthatmakesyoudumb.virgil.gr/mtmyd/mtmydGenreLarge.png]

Any suprises?

Finding out the 'dumbest' music gives me a nice warm smug feeling. - said the escapist's forum user ravens_nest


The original article can be found here [http://musicthatmakesyoudumb.virgil.gr/].

An Australian news website's opinion can be found here [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25172226-2,00.html]

Enjoy...


EDIT 1:

For a broader comparison look at this graph [http://musicthatmakesyoudumb.virgil.gr/mtmyd/MusicthatmakesyoudumbHuge.png].

EDIT 2: - RE-EDITED (coming to a theatre near you)

Just to clarify, this data is not suggesting that certain types of music 'make you smart/dumb' It is mereley pointing out which bands are listed as the favourite artist among students of over 1,300 different schools/colleges. And they are organised into the groups according to what scores the students attained on average.

The students test scores are averaged and the results are shown in the graph.

Don't be offended if you don't match up on the graphs. I posted this because I found it interesting.

EDIT 3: - EDITED WITH A VENGENCE (because we love your money)

If you are wondering why your favourite artist isn't here it's because they did not get chosen as part of the 130 artists most frequently nominated as favourite artist by the survey takers.

Also, Mr Griffiths, grouped the genre's together quite loosly and warned not to pay much attention in where individual acts might be grouped under.

 

[flare09]

I hope this is a joke. If not it's really stupid. (Not your post that image of the groups and SAT scores.)

 

[Jarc42]

Bah! This is ridiculous.

 

[Ago Iterum]

I remember ages ago a certain large ego'd forum user with a sense of self importance bigger
^Stick an extra G here, and you have his name
than the market in the chicken produced passage of birth/breakfast associated food that bares his name. (I'd name him but mods would tell me off)

He went on implying how he was so much more well read and intelligent because he played and listened to more 'cultured' music, and how all other music was basically common scum.

 

[Gooble]

Yeah, seems to make sense. From general life experience it appears that generally the more ignorant people seem to like a lot more urban music, which generally has lot fewer layers, and more intelligent people seem to like a lot more alternative music which is pushes the boundaries of music and generally has a lot more layers to take in.

Another interesting article, linking musical taste to personality, seems to make a lot of sense too:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7598549.stm

Edit: Thinking more rationally now and linking the two articles, people who generally like urban music are probably so-called 'kinetic' learners, which most schools don't accomodate for, hence they are more likely to get lower grades, meaning that the statistics in the article in the OP are skewed. And who gives a fuck anyway, statistics just generalise everything and rarely give a full picture.

 

[Brotherofwill]

Pink Floyd did worse then the Killers...yea that pretty much says it all about accuracy.
Anyway Bowie did resonably well, but most of this graph is just a crowded mess

 

[Matronadena]

Beethoven is great and all, But I'd go with Mozart's Requiem any day, and Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor comes in a close second.

 

[flare09]

I'd have to say for this to be any bit true, they would have to admit that they are stereo typing really really bad.

 

[white_salad]

I think metal is misrepresented, there are only four bands, and disturbed isn't that metal, nor system of a down. And apparently it suck to like rap *points to lil' wayne*

 

[bigbrian206]

i got a 1260 and Disturbed is one of my favorite bands.

 

[Overlord_Dave]

Regardless of the validity of the data, it's most likely that people with lower scores prefer specific genres of music rather than music causing their scores.

 

[Ancientgamer]

If you realize that these results are obviously just displaying correlation, the whole thing becomes a lot more reasonable, and you can actually see why the results may have turned out that way.

 

[Raven's Nest]

I'd have to say for this to be any bit true, they would have to admit that they are stereo typing really really bad.

It's not stereotyping, it's an actual statistic. People create stereotypes not facts and statistical analysis.

Well if you believe the statistics are accurate anyway. Given the massive amount exposure in the media, the results must have some merit.

 

[magicaxis]

If this is true, than i was right all along! i am a genius, and all those fags who listen to my chemical romance and falloutboy are RETARDS! i KNEW i was a better person than them! aaahaaa! woo!

 

[Raven's Nest]

Yeah, seems to make sense. From general life experience it appears that generally the more ignorant people seem to like a lot more urban music, which generally has lot fewer layers, and more intelligent people seem to like a lot more alternative music which is pushes the boundaries of music and generally has a lot more layers to take in.

Another interesting article, linking musical taste to personality, seems to make a lot of sense too:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7598549.stm

Edit: Thinking more rationally now and linking the two articles, people who generally like urban music are probably so-called 'kinetic' learners, which most schools don't accomodate for, hence they are more likely to get lower grades, meaning that the statistics in the article in the OP are skewed. And who gives a fuck anyway, statistics just generalise everything and rarely give a full picture.

Agreed, and to back up your point, Eminem himself apparently has a very high IQ. And he failed miserably in school.

Regardless of the validity of the data, it's most likely that people with lower scores prefer specific genres of music rather than music causing their scores.

This is precisely what this analysis is trying to show.

 

[zen5887]

Hah I giggled.

As far as its accuracy, I think it is okay. Its a bit sterotypical but I think it is pretty safe to say you average Radiohead fan is smarter then your average Fall out boy fan. I know this isn't allways the case but still..

I personaly listen to most of the artists on this list so where do I stand?

 

[The Gardener]

inb4 Clockwork Orange. Alex loved Beethoven and was still a viscious, rapist ****, though that's more about morals than ntelligence.

Honestly, I can see how these can have some correspondances - some artists are just more intellectual and thought-provoking. But I don't think this will change the face of education, and I'm a fan of acid rap, which is basically about murder and drugs and I'm fairly intelligent.

 

[likalaruku]

Won't do me any good. I only listen to Japanese, Russian, Romanian, Sweedish, South Korean, & some Spanish & German music. If it has English lyrics, I won't listen to it, because I never believe in the message, whereas lyrics you can't understand can be about whatever you want.

 

[Jerious1154]

What I don't understand is why "Alternative" is the lowest of all of the rock subgenres. I mean, come on, it's lower than Blink-182.

 

[Raven's Nest]

What I don't understand is why "Alternative" is the lowest of all of the rock subgenres. I mean, come on, it's lower than Blink-182.

I would consider Radiohead and Muse to both be alternative. Yet they are singled out as one of the more 'intelligent' bands.