The researchers found that empathetic individuals (“empathizers”) tended to prefer more emotionally driven music, while analytic minds (“systemizers”) gravitated toward music with greater sonic complexity.
“Empathizers, who have a drive to understand the thoughts and feelings of others, preferred music … which featured low energy, negative emotions (such as sadness) and emotional depth,” David Greenberg, a Ph.D. candidate at Cambridge and the study’s lead author, told The Huffington Post in an email. “On the other hand, systemizers, who have a drive to understand and analyze the patterns that underpin the world, preferred music … which not only features high energy and positive emotions.”
