In a pioneering exploration that bridges the intricacies of psychology and the profound influence of music on human behavior, researchers have embarked on an ambitious study to uncover how musical preferences reflect the deeper layers of personality within those grappling with alcohol and substance use disorders. This novel investigation, recently published in BMC Psychology, dissects the complex interplay between preferred music genres and the temperament-character matrix in individuals facing addiction challenges—a topic that merges the art of sound with the science of the human psyche.
The research team, led by M.R. Bardakçı and colleagues, sought to delve beyond the surface allure of music into its potential as a mirror for intrinsic personality traits that characterize individuals afflicted by substance-related disorders. By focusing on temperament and character—conceptual frameworks formulated to explain enduring behavioral tendencies and self-concepts—they were able to scrutinize how these dimensions manifest in musical tastes. Such an approach offers fresh perspectives not only on addiction but also on the underlying personality typologies that may predispose or accompany substance misuse.
Temperament, traditionally understood as the biologically rooted aspect of personality manifesting through automatic emotional responses, was examined alongside character, which encompasses self-concepts and individual goals shaped through experience and sociocultural influences. This dual lens allowed the study to paint a nuanced picture of how internal psychobiological settings resonate with external cultural expressions, namely, musical preferences. It is a groundbreaking attempt to chart a biopsychosocial terrain where sound becomes an expressive language etched into personality fabric.
The methodology employed by the researchers involved rigorous psychological assessments paired with detailed surveys on music preferences among individuals clinically diagnosed with alcohol and substance use disorders. The sample population was subjected to validated temperament-character inventories, such as the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), while their favorite genres and styles of music were meticulously cataloged. The intersection of these datasets illuminated distinctive patterns indicating that certain personality profiles gravitated towards particular musical expressions.
For example, individuals demonstrating higher levels of novelty-seeking—a temperament trait associated with impulsivity and a predisposition towards exploration—were more inclined to prefer music genres characterized by dynamic, high-energy, and emotionally stimulating compositions. Conversely, those with greater harm-avoidance tendencies gravitated towards softer, more soothing, and emotionally regulated music styles, revealing a coping mechanism to modulate anxiety and distress often exacerbated by substance dependence.
Moreover, the study found compelling evidence that character traits, such as self-directedness and cooperativeness, also played significant roles in shaping musical preference. Individuals exhibiting lower self-directedness, which reflects difficulties in regulating and adapting behavior to achieve personal goals, reportedly preferred music that conveyed feelings of rebelliousness or melancholy. This insight raises the possibility that music serves as a reflective surface for individuals’ internal struggles with self-concept and identity during addiction.
One of the most fascinating and clinically relevant facets of the study lies in the potential application of music preference profiles as adjunctive diagnostic tools or therapeutic entry points. Understanding the psychomusical profile of a patient could assist clinicians in tailoring personalized interventions that resonate more deeply, thereby enhancing treatment adherence and emotional engagement. Music therapy, long recognized for its emotive and cognitive benefits, might be refined through an evidence-based approach informed by temperament and character analysis.
Beyond clinical implications, the research also sheds light on the cultural and neuropsychological dimensions of music consumption within vulnerable populations. It challenges the often reductive notion of musical taste as a matter of mere preference, instead proposing it as a complex psychobiological phenomenon interwoven with the neurocircuitry of reward, emotion regulation, and identity formation—all processes perturbed in addiction.
Neuroscientific perspectives support these findings by illustrating how auditory stimuli processed in limbic and prefrontal brain regions influence mood regulation, reward sensations, and executive functions—all of which are frequently dysregulated in substance use disorders. Connecting temperament and character traits with these neural mechanisms and musical preferences opens exciting avenues for future research aimed at decoding the neural substrates of addiction through the lens of music.
The researchers also highlight the societal dimensions of their findings. Music serves as both a personal and collective experience, mediating social affiliation and group identity, factors that bear significance in addiction recovery contexts. Identifying how individuals’ temperamental profiles and character traits shape their music preferences could assist in creating social environments conducive to positive behavioral change and recovery.
Interestingly, the study posits that the motivational and emotional valence carried by different musical styles might align with the psychological needs met or unmet in addiction cycles. For example, music that evokes catharsis or emotional release might fulfill unmet emotional regulation needs, while rhythmically intense music could simulate dopamine release resembling that produced by addictive substances, albeit in a safer, therapeutic manner.
Crucially, the study does not suggest that musical preference is deterministic or sole indicator of personality or addiction prognosis; rather, it emphasizes an associative pattern that demands further exploration. This nuanced understanding encourages a balanced view that respects the complexity of human behavior, cognition, and cultural expression, all filtered through the compelling medium of music.
The implications of these insights ripple outward into fields as diverse as psychopharmacology, neuropsychiatry, musicology, and behavioral health. Future studies might extend this line of inquiry by incorporating longitudinal designs, neuroimaging modalities, or experimental manipulations of music exposure to validate and expand current models. Ultimately, this research embodies a holistic approach—a synthesis of art, science, and clinical wisdom aimed at unlocking the mysteries of addiction through the universal language of music.
This groundbreaking study by Bardakçı and colleagues serves as a catalyst, urging the scientific community to reevaluate the therapeutic potential of music within addiction treatment paradigms and to recognize the profound ways in which our inner worlds resonate with the sounds that move us. As the research frontier advances, integrating psychobiological profiles with musical aesthetics could herald a new era of personalized, empathetic, and efficacious addiction interventions that honor both science and the soulful power of music.
Subject of Research:
The study examines how preferred music genres correlate with temperament and character traits in individuals diagnosed with alcohol and substance use disorders, exploring the psychobiological and clinical implications of these associations.
Article Title:
Examining the relationship between preferred music types and temperament-character in individuals diagnosed with alcohol and substance use disorders.
Article References:
Bardakçı, M.R., Yılmaz, H.K., Yazici, A.B. et al. Examining the relationship between preferred music types and temperament-character in individuals diagnosed with alcohol and substance use disorders. BMC Psychol 13, 1299 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03648-2
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03648-2
