Emotional Temperament and Character Dimensions and State Anger as Predictors of Preference for Rap Music in Italian Population

Abstract

The objective of the current work was to examine the relationships between affective temperaments dimensions, trait anger, and the preference for rap music in a sample of Italian adults. An online survey was administered to 662 subjects. We assessed preference for rap music using a Likert scale. Ina addition, we investigated the sample’ affective temperament traits using the Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego (TEMPS-A) short scale and the trait anger by using the Trait Anger component of the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2 (STAXI-2). Multiple linear regression indicated that cyclothymic temperament score, hyperthymic temperament score, and trait anger scores were positive predictors while older age, and depressive temperament and higher education score were negative predictors of preference for rap music. The results expand previous literature on personality and music preference indicating the association of high energy/high activity temperaments and trait anger to preference for rap music.

Temperament differences in boys and girls from 3 to 5 years old

“…Traditionally there is a certain consensus that this construct refers to individual differences in the reactivity and emotional regulation of each person and that it is a tendency of great biological content and therefore has continuity and temporal stability; therefore, temperament has two characteristics: heredity and its clear presence in early childhood. The EAS scale is the most widely used scale in studies that focus on the characteristics of early-appearing manner of being, The basic dimensions that it evaluates are: (a) emotionality or tendency to become easily and intensely activated (items 2, 6, 11, 15, 19); (b) activity, the preference for displaying a certain level of activity and speed of action (items 4, 7, 9, 13, 17); (c) sociability, the tendency to prefer the presence of other people or to remain alone (items 3,5,10,16,18). (b) shyness, the tendency to be inhibited in new social situations, this last characteristic is usually considered within sociability (1,8,12,14,20).…”

“…9 Generally in adulthood individual differences are conceptualized in terms of personality theories and traits, but in early childhood it is considered better to explain child behavior in terms of temperament. 10 It is claimed that there is correlation between various forms of temperament and characteristics of different personality types in adulthood, there is evidence supporting continuity between infant temperament and adult personality traits. 11,12 Temperament has been considered in a variety of ways, but they all have in common the recognition that they are non-cognitive and nonmotivational characteristics that can explain individual differences in people especially in childhood.…”