Music and intelligence

[hittite]

All right! Fine! To those comenting on my earlier comment, no I've never seen statistics to that effect, it's just something I heard once that sounded plausible. It was 2AM. I was typing nonsense. Get off my case.

As for the guy who mentioned something about "inspector gadget," all I have to say is: you philistene!

 

[Yossarian1507]

Ugh... Yeah sure, I met a lot of empty, plastic people listening to whatever MTV or other bullcrap will tell them is cool. Sure, I'm listening to metal (classical music, jazz, trip hop, rap. I don't care about genre if it sounds good to me) and I consider myself quite intelligent (or at least I never met anyone who would call me an 'ignorant', and people like to discuss with me on various topics), most of my friends still or at least at some point listened to metal, and I think they are intelligent as well.

But that does not mean it's true. I met several metalheads, who were just as dumb and empty as your typical high school jock, but instead of being plastic they were metal...

the bottom line is: it's not music that makes you intelligent, and never will be. True, sometimes listening to music may leave a spark inside you to for example make the music you love, and with that passion maybe you'll start your interest in other things which definitely helps your intelligence, but for the love of God, it can be love to electronic music, metal, rap, jazz, blues or even country.

It's your parents during the first stage of life, and then YOU. You are making yourself intelligent (or dumb), not music.

 

[Wardnath]

In this thread, 16 year old metalheads who have an extremely limited knowledge of music.

Also lol at using "techno" to describe the entirety of electronic music.

Basically if you think theres a link in intelligence and music you aren't very intelligent.

So all deathcore fans are intelligent?

Edit: Also, most of the "metalheads" here actually only like A7X, Korn and Slipknot. There aren't very many proper metalheads here.

 

[Kris015]

...and that people with high intelligence mostly listened to Classic music or metal.

ahahaa...

Your sister might have some prejudices here.

Those are about the most opposite music genres out there. Ill place 3 Francs and a mars bar on her listening to Metal.

I know many a mental moron who listens to Metal, and one top notch toff who listens to techno.

your (and thus your sisters) argument is flawed.

It was something she had read. She don't have any prejudices.

 

[Seldon2639]

I know what she's talking about - I remember seeing this study where they compared student's test scores (SATs, in this case) with the types of music they listened to, and found (in general) that student's who did better in school tended to listen to classical music.

http://www.labnol.org/internet/music-taste-linked-to-intelligence/7489/

In my experience, I've found that this actually does tend to be true. I work with a lot of stupid people, and everytime they bring their iPods to work, I get to listen to a bunch of shitty modern hip-hop.

Self-reporting is always a bit iffy.

It could just be "those with higher intelligences are more likely to say they listen to classical music" rather than any kind of correlative (much less causal) link.

It's a selection bias. People who are more intelligent may (and in my experience, do) be more sensitive to the trappings and mis-en-scene of being intellectual, and so say they listen to more "intelligent" music than they actually do. I think a large part of it may be that classical music has a history and reputation of being more sophisticated and aristocratic, so self-styled intellectuals would report they listen to it, even if they're bopping out to Basement Jaxx.

 

[userwhoquitthesite]

*Buzzer* WRONG! People who listen to more complex music have developed an ear for the more layers of sound, it's just like preferring another genre of music. Also just because a song is more complex doesn't make it better, you determine that by the songs melodies and riffs.

lets consider the implications of people to listen to classical remixes and rap-metal

madness!

Well rap-metal, aka nu-metal, is the most retarded brand of music you can find (see Insane Clown Posse).

precisely

Malenko can wave his wnd all he likes, it wont make anything from Psychopathic worth hearing

What are you babbling on about? ICP is awesome.

I will grant you that Halls of Illusion is pretty good, and I like the group's mythos as well as the amazing resultant sense of community the Juggalos seem to have, but no, sir, you are wrong. ICP is not and never has been awesome.

And Faygo tastes like ass

 

[reg42]

The music you listen to has nothing to do with intelligence. I know very smart and very stupid people who listen to rap.

 

[Zac_Dai]

In this thread, 16 year old metalheads who have an extremely limited knowledge of music.

Also lol at using "techno" to describe the entirety of electronic music.

Basically if you think theres a link in intelligence and music you aren't very intelligent.

So all deathcore fans are intelligent?

Edit: Also, most of the "metalheads" here actually only like A7X, Korn and Slipknot. There aren't very many proper metalheads here.

Hence the qualifier "16 year olds". What you said is kind of my point, they know about metal to a certain degree and base all their knowledge of hip-hop and electronic music off some shit they saw on MTV. From this ignorance they form the opinion that metal is the taste of intelligent people.

Yet Hip-hop and especially electronic music is just as diverse, rich and complex as metal is if not more so.

But they don't see that, all they see is Basshunter and 50 cent, they then go back to listening to 'Ride the lightning' feeling smug and superior.

 

[Baby Tea]

The real question is: is this cause, or effect?

Now that is the question.
I would see that musical tastes might be closer to 'cause' then 'effect'. Lower intelligence, much more susceptible to musical marketing, listening to it because you're told it's great and force-fed it on music channels and CHR radio.

That makes far more sense to me.

Music totally can stimulate emotions, making one angry or sad or happy, but raise or lower IQ?
Color me skeptical.

 

[Nazulu]

*Buzzer* WRONG! People who listen to more complex music have developed an ear for the more layers of sound, it's just like preferring another genre of music. Also just because a song is more complex doesn't make it better, you determine that by the songs melodies and riffs.

lets consider the implications of people to listen to classical remixes and rap-metal

madness!

Well rap-metal, aka nu-metal, is the most retarded brand of music you can find (see Insane Clown Posse).

precisely

Malenko can wave his wnd all he likes, it wont make anything from Psychopathic worth hearing

What are you babbling on about? ICP is awesome.

I will grant you that Halls of Illusion is pretty good, and I like the group's mythos as well as the amazing resultant sense of community the Juggalos seem to have, but no, sir, you are wrong. ICP is not and never has been awesome.

And Faygo tastes like ass

This is me your talking too. I don't need you to tell me if they are awesome or not when I already like many of their songs from their 3rd, 4th and 5th albums. In that time they were awesome, I've got no idea what you have against them but it doesn't matter because they delivered.

Faygo?

 

[More Fun To Compute]

I got slightly interested in this so did a google search to find out if there is a scientific way to compare how complex different types of music are. I got back search results from stormfront but nothing useful so I can at least conclude that metal heads are like neo nazis when it comes to wanting to prove that they are more intelligent than other groups of people.

I know what she's talking about - I remember seeing this study where they compared student's test scores (SATs, in this case) with the types of music they listened to, and found (in general) that student's who did better in school tended to listen to classical music.

http://www.labnol.org/internet/music-taste-linked-to-intelligence/7489/

In my experience, I've found that this actually does tend to be true. I work with a lot of stupid people, and everytime they bring their iPods to work, I get to listen to a bunch of shitty modern hip-hop.

I like this since I often listen to Beethoven, Sufjan Stevens and Radiohead in my car.

 

[Otterpoet]

Music choice has nothing to do with intelligence; it's typically a matter of choice.

And as for that study mentioned previously, it's an empty, pointless equation (based on what a person listens to in comparison to their SATs) that even the creator says does not represent correlation equalling causation. And look at the chart itself... 'classical' listeners are some of the stupidest of the bunch while 'Techno' and 'Indie' listeners are the smartest. It's pseudo-science crap like this that shows up on the Fox Network to prove video games corrupt our youth.

 

[Dublin Solo]

This really doesn't look like the most serious study out there. I prefer to take this with a grain of salt. Lots of factors could have influenced the results.

 

[ethaninja]

Hmm that sounds about right. All my dickhead mates listen to pop and techno. And all the ones that are actually capable of talking.. ya know.. properly listen to classic and metal. I'm able to have a proper conversation with them. Not just follow them while they strutt around saying the words "Fuck, ****, dickhead"

 

[QuickDEMOL1SHER]

Wow. My two favorite styles of music are Metal and Classical.

YAY I'M SMART!!!

 

[Houmand]

There was an experiment a few years ago, where people undertook an IQ-test, then were told to listen to either house music or classical exclusively for six months. Those who were told to listen to classical music got higher scores when they were tested again after six months, the techno people scored lower than the first time.

Funny.

 

[Fetzenfisch]

Well my personal experience agrees with that "study" . But being anything like liking rap or techno i really seldom meet people who listen to such stuff, so i automatically spend my time with folks from my scenes, and the few contacts with others is mostly about some dickheads trying to be cool or gangsta on the street at night. That may explain a lot of peoples feeling, that there could be something true about the thesis.
Also in my experience, children of educated and more or less wealthy parents, mostly don't like rap, because they can't identify with that idiotic gangster image = educated rock/metal listeners.
The solution is not as easy as Metal=Brain Techno=Pinky i guess a lot of factors need to be looked at.

 

[userwhoquitthesite]

*Buzzer* WRONG! People who listen to more complex music have developed an ear for the more layers of sound, it's just like preferring another genre of music. Also just because a song is more complex doesn't make it better, you determine that by the songs melodies and riffs.

lets consider the implications of people to listen to classical remixes and rap-metal

madness!

Well rap-metal, aka nu-metal, is the most retarded brand of music you can find (see Insane Clown Posse).

precisely

Malenko can wave his wnd all he likes, it wont make anything from Psychopathic worth hearing

What are you babbling on about? ICP is awesome.

I will grant you that Halls of Illusion is pretty good, and I like the group's mythos as well as the amazing resultant sense of community the Juggalos seem to have, but no, sir, you are wrong. ICP is not and never has been awesome.

And Faygo tastes like ass

This is me your talking too. I don't need you to tell me if they are awesome or not when I already like many of their songs from their 3rd, 4th and 5th albums. In that time they were awesome, I've got no idea what you have against them but it doesn't matter because they delivered.

Faygo?

You refuted my opinion, so I'm free to respond in kind. ICP has ALWAYS sucked, from the time they couldn't make it as NORMAL white rappers, on through the name change, the dark carnival, and the six jokers. I do not share your particular musical taste, and cannot see how ANYONE would enjoy any of the work, save a very few songs intermittent throughout the duo's career. The fact that these songs exist does not MAKE the group awesome, as almost everyone has at least one song that is any kind of decent. ICP sucks. Twiztid sucks and can only claim to be a more mainstreamed version of ICP, I have never heard anything Blaze has done but i bet he sucks too and the same can be said of ABK, and Boondox sucks with a strong country aftertaste.

And faygo is the ICP soda. Juggalos seem to subsist on it, and as many references to it ICP makes in their songs, I am amazed you dont know what it is.

 

[Nazulu]

You refuted my opinion, so I'm free to respond in kind. ICP has ALWAYS sucked, from the time they couldn't make it as NORMAL white rappers, on through the name change, the dark carnival, and the six jokers. I do not share your particular musical taste, and cannot see how ANYONE would enjoy any of the work, save a very few songs intermittent throughout the duo's career. The fact that these songs exist does not MAKE the group awesome, as almost everyone has at least one song that is any kind of decent. ICP sucks. Twiztid sucks and can only claim to be a more mainstreamed version of ICP, I have never heard anything Blaze has done but i bet he sucks too and the same can be said of ABK, and Boondox sucks with a strong country aftertaste.

This sucks and that sucks because I know everything! Well smarty pants, I know everything too and just because a bands/rappers career doesn't start very well doesn't mean they will be shit forever. Also they had more than one good song, hell I already got 17 at the moment on my iPod and to me that's a good number of songs.

And faygo is the ICP soda. Juggalos seem to subsist on it, and as many references to it ICP makes in their songs, I am amazed you dont know what it is.

Yeah I just started listening to 'em, thanks for telling me I'll go and try it out myself.

 

[x0ny]

It's a general trend, and with any trend, there are anomalies.