Any correlation between intelligence and musical preference.

The answer lies in this part of your post

dont listen to classical wrote:

I am currently pursuing a Ph.D in Physics, and I feel left out! All my fellow graduate student listen to this stuff.

many people feel they have to like classical to be considered smart or cultured, just as many people are into wine, cigars, martinis, etc. It's called peer pressure.

I don't believe you. You are either lying about your IQ, or you are lying about your love of Nickleback just to thwart my theory.

the only obvious correlation is that anyone who listens to rap or hip hop is sub-normal. Any other connection between musical taste and intelligence would be very difficult to prove - IMHO.

IQ 148.

:)

Perhaps those with a higher IQ listen to music that requires more talent to perform or music that has deeper more intriguing lyrics.

However, there are going to be exceptions like the smart kid who listens to Nickelback.

Either way, I think every IQ test should ask the taker if they like Nickelback, then subtract about 20 points if they answer yes.

Tastes are tastes[quote]du, du hast, du hast mich wrote:

Tastes are tastes

are they?

Then you should also have doubt in the Stanford-Binet's validity

i can see you doubting his iq is 161 but what does the 100 average got to do with it?

asdfzxcv wrote:

many people feel they have to like classical to be considered smart or cultured, just as many people are into wine, cigars, martinis, etc. It's called peer pressure.

I think this guy is right. I'm a PhD student in engineering at one of the top 5 or 10 universities worldwide. 99% of the people in the program are so inept at social interaction that they've created their own false reality where book smarts are the true measure of social status and worth. In my opinion, these people compete amongst each other for social status by clinging to anything that identifies with intelligence: classical music, awful haircuts, IQ scores, ill-fitting clothing, science fiction, etc. When all these things are really a discreet signaling mechanism to keep regular society at arms length in order to avoid humiliating rejection. The fact that many of you only list scientists, engineers and mathematicians as intelligent is a very telling sign.

FWIW, I listen to alternative rock, classic rock, and hip-hop, with a little pop and country mixed in. I don't care to know my IQ. It's probably somewhere on the high end of the spectrum based on my current position and history on standardized tests. However, anyone that believes that IQ is an all encompassing measurement for intelligence or future success needs a reality check.

One can hardly be categorized as stupid based upon one's affinity toward a particular musical genre. The association between superior intelligence and classical or jazz music may be statistically significant but not quite all-encompassing.

I have not yet met someone who I would qualitatively categorize as "less" intelligent who enjoyed classical music or jazz. These are genres that are more difficult to appreciate and thus don't draw the "quick and easy" crowd, who, by my approximation tend to hang out on the other side of mu.

I have a certified triple digit IQ and I like the classics for whatever that is worth. I do believe there is some affinity between math skills and music (at least the classics). In the early 70s when software engineering was taking off there was a shortage of skilled programmers. IBM recruited a few music majors and gave them crash courses in programming and they did quite well. I have no idea the decision behind recruiting music majors but someone must have thought there was a correlation

dont listen to classical wrote:

It seems like intelligent people (professors, scientists, mathematicians) listen to classical music. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D in Physics, and I feel left out! All my fellow graduate student listen to this stuff. When asked who my favorite composer was the other day, I said Rammstein (for those who don't know, they are a German industrial metal band)... haha (I laughed inside, because they had no idea who that was). I said they're a group of German composers .. Anywho, what's your take on intelligence and musical preference? Does my taste in metal make me stupid?

IQ of 140 here. i like some nickelback songs. they are catchy and fun.

although i am not aware of a pos corr between musical tastes and IQ i have noticed something else. there are fo-intellectuals, people who try very hard to be sophisticated, who think because they don\'t like nickelback or taught themselves to not like nickelback they are somehow superior. i wouldnt call it lack of intelligencel, i would call it lack of self esteem.

i used to think in similar ways when i was younger. but, as i got older i enjoy what i enjoy. its fun to cruise along to the latest pop song craze. but, i stil get emotional stirred by classical pieces.

i am always skeptical of people who consider their subjective tastes and preferences superior to others. the irony is they try so hard to be different, they let mainstream though dictate what the are not going to do.

basically, i am explaining what we all already know about hipsters.

Oh great, another thread full of tedious bores lying about their IQs.

a few of my fellow phil profs are rammstein fans as well. classical and jazz will have a lot of fans among academics, but many of the men like classic rock as well.

well I have seen a very strong correlation between people who listen to rock in general there seems to be a preference to this genre due to its strong compositional and lyrical content which is more expressive than those of other genre. people who have high IQ tend to relate to genres message

I dunno how much of a correlation there is, but I do know that if you think Billy Joel is great you are of below average intelligence.

And if you think of just how dumb the average American is, that's a scary thought.

IQ of 64 here. I listen to Liszt and Schoenberg.

Tell us of your musical preferences.