Stereotypes and personalities of musicians

Author(s): Gregory, A. H.

Journal/Book: J Psychol. 1999; 133: 1319 Eighteenth St NW, Washington, DC 20036-1802, USA. Heldref Publications. 104-114.

Abstract: Folk fiddle players and Salvation Army brass band members completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI; H. J. Eysenck & S. B. G. Eysenck; 1964) and a questionnaire concerning their opinions about the personality characteristics of orchestral violinists, orchestral brass players, folk fiddlers, and Salvation Army brass band members. The EPI scores of the 2 groups showed a greater neuroticism among string players but not the greater extraversion of brass players found in previous studies on the personalities of musicians. Although participants' views about the personality characteristics of orchestral brass players and orchestral violinists echoed those found in previous research, their views on the Salvation Army (as brass players) and on folk fiddlers (as string players) did not. Results of this study showed that personality differences or stereotypes among musicians are probably determined more by the history and traditions of the group in which they are perceived to be involved than by the instruments they play.

Note: Article Gregory AH, Univ Manchester, Dept Psychol, Manchester M13 9PL, Lancs, ENGLAND

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