Summary article Comparison of traits predicting selective exposure to defiant music
•Popular music expressing messages of social defiance is a target of social concern for many in
today’s society. Genres such as heavy metal and rap have received considerable attention, being
accused of fostering violence and aggression.
•The question arises as to why young adults are drawn to defiant, arguably anti-social music. It could
be because they define themselves socially in this way.
•Research has shown that music preference is involved in making friends and even in choosing
romantic partners. Because music can indicate self-image, lifestyle and peer-group membership, it
may be assumed that music preference and its display are purposeful, deliberate choices by the
music consumers.
•Rebellion, as related to heavy-metal music consumption, may be motived by arousal-seeking.
•Hostile or reactive rebellion: reflected in aggressive behavioural tendencies.
•Non-hostile recklessness or pro-active rebellion: reflected by aspects of openness to experience.
Hypothesis
•Persons exhibiting high overall trait rebelliousness spend more time listening to defiant music than
persons exhibiting low levels of this characteristic
•Persons high in proactive rebelliousness and in disinhibition spend more time listening to defiant
music than persons low in these characteristics.
•Persons high in reactive rebelliousness and hostility spend more time listening to defiant music than
persons low in these characteristics.
•Proactive rebelliousness and disinhibition are more closely related to exposure to defiant music
than are reactive rebelliousness and hostility.
Discussion
•This investigation served two purposes. First, it tested previous findings concerning a relationship
between trait rebelliousness and preference for defiant music using the behavioural measure of
selective exposure. Results confirm that high levels of trait rebelliousness are, indeed, associated
with increased consumption of defiant musical selections.
•The second function was that the characterization of trait rebelliousness with regard to disinhibition
or hostility.
•The present study demonstrated that, whereas both disinhibitive and hostile tendencies
significantly and positively related to trait rebelliousness, only aspects of excitement-seeking
corresponded with actual defiant music consumption.
•Results showed that high disinhibition levels and proactive rebelliousness corresponded with
increased listening of defiant selections, whereas high hostility and reactive rebelliousness did not.
This indicates that trait rebelliousness, as it relates to the selective exposure to defiant music, can
be characterized not as anger-induced rebellion, but as freedom-inspired rebellion that would give
rise to impulsive and sometimes antisocial feelings and behaviours.
Leesvragen
Vraag 1. De auteurs onderscheiden twee vormen van rebellie. Leg uit welke twee vormen dit
zijn en licht ze toe.
Vraag 2. Waarom maken de auteurs dit onderscheid en wat laten de resultaten zien op basis
van deze twee concepten?
•Popular music expressing messages of social defiance is a target of social concern for many in
today’s society. Genres such as heavy metal and rap have received considerable attention, being
accused of fostering violence and aggression.
•The question arises as to why young adults are drawn to defiant, arguably anti-social music. It could
be because they define themselves socially in this way.
•Research has shown that music preference is involved in making friends and even in choosing
romantic partners. Because music can indicate self-image, lifestyle and peer-group membership, it
may be assumed that music preference and its display are purposeful, deliberate choices by the
music consumers.
•Rebellion, as related to heavy-metal music consumption, may be motived by arousal-seeking.
•Hostile or reactive rebellion: reflected in aggressive behavioural tendencies.
•Non-hostile recklessness or pro-active rebellion: reflected by aspects of openness to experience.
Hypothesis
•Persons exhibiting high overall trait rebelliousness spend more time listening to defiant music than
persons exhibiting low levels of this characteristic
•Persons high in proactive rebelliousness and in disinhibition spend more time listening to defiant
music than persons low in these characteristics.
•Persons high in reactive rebelliousness and hostility spend more time listening to defiant music than
persons low in these characteristics.
•Proactive rebelliousness and disinhibition are more closely related to exposure to defiant music
than are reactive rebelliousness and hostility.
Discussion
•This investigation served two purposes. First, it tested previous findings concerning a relationship
between trait rebelliousness and preference for defiant music using the behavioural measure of
selective exposure. Results confirm that high levels of trait rebelliousness are, indeed, associated
with increased consumption of defiant musical selections.
•The second function was that the characterization of trait rebelliousness with regard to disinhibition
or hostility.
•The present study demonstrated that, whereas both disinhibitive and hostile tendencies
significantly and positively related to trait rebelliousness, only aspects of excitement-seeking
corresponded with actual defiant music consumption.
•Results showed that high disinhibition levels and proactive rebelliousness corresponded with
increased listening of defiant selections, whereas high hostility and reactive rebelliousness did not.
This indicates that trait rebelliousness, as it relates to the selective exposure to defiant music, can
be characterized not as anger-induced rebellion, but as freedom-inspired rebellion that would give
rise to impulsive and sometimes antisocial feelings and behaviours.
Leesvragen
Vraag 1. De auteurs onderscheiden twee vormen van rebellie. Leg uit welke twee vormen dit
zijn en licht ze toe.
Vraag 2. Waarom maken de auteurs dit onderscheid en wat laten de resultaten zien op basis
van deze twee concepten?
