Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 16, 2026
09:19
Community-based Adapted Tango Dancing for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Older Adults
Published on: December 9, 2014
26.4K
Conscientiousness and Extraversion relate to responsiveness to tempo in dance
Emily Carlson1, Birgitta Burger1, Justin London2
1Center for Interdisciplinary Music Research, University of Jyväskylä, Department of Music, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Finland.
Human Movement Science
|August 24, 2016
Summary
Personality traits influence how dancers respond to musical tempo changes. Higher conscientiousness and lower extraversion in dancers correlated with greater sensitivity to tempo variations in music.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Musicology
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Previous research indicates a general link between personality and dance.
- The specific relationship between personality traits and responses to musical structure, such as tempo, remains under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of personality traits and trait empathy on dancers' perception and physical response to subtle tempo variations in music.
- To explore how individual differences in personality affect the detection of small musical tempo changes.
Main Methods:
- Thirty participants danced to musical excerpts with slight tempo alterations (faster or slower).
- Motion capture technology recorded joint acceleration to quantify dancers' responsiveness to tempo changes.
- Statistical analyses, including partial correlation, were used to examine relationships between personality, empathy, and responsiveness.
Main Results:
- Higher levels of conscientiousness were associated with increased responsiveness to tempo changes.
- Lower levels of extraversion also correlated with greater responsiveness to tempo variations.
- Conscientiousness showed a significant independent correlation with responsiveness, whereas extraversion did not when conscientiousness was controlled. Trait empathy did not significantly influence responsiveness.
Conclusions:
- Conscientiousness is a key personality trait predicting dancers' sensitivity to subtle musical tempo changes.
- Extraversion's influence on tempo responsiveness is less pronounced and potentially mediated by conscientiousness.
- Future research should explore the neurophysiological underpinnings of personality-driven musical tempo perception in dancers.
Related Concept Videos
01:04Social Facilitation
36.7K
Not all intergroup interactions lead to negative outcomes. Sometimes, being in a group situation can improve performance. Social facilitation occurs when an individual performs better when an audience is watching than when the individual performs the behavior alone. This typically occurs when people are performing a task for which they are skilled.
36.7K
01:29Personality Theory by Eysenck and Eysenck
1.6K
Hans and Sybil Eysenck developed a widely recognized theory of personality, which emphasizes the role of temperament and genetically based differences in shaping individual traits. Their theory posits that biological factors primarily determine personality and can be understood through two main dimensions: extroversion/introversion and neuroticism/stability.
In the extroversion/introversion dimension, highly extroverted people are sociable, outgoing, and easily connect with others. In contrast,...
In the extroversion/introversion dimension, highly extroverted people are sociable, outgoing, and easily connect with others. In contrast,...
1.6K
01:29Five-Factor Theory of Personality
2.2K
The five-factor model, often called the Big Five personality traits, is widely accepted in psychology as a comprehensive framework for understanding personality. These five traits — Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism — are often remembered using the acronym OCEAN.
Openness reflects creativity, curiosity, and openness to new experiences. Individuals scoring high in openness are imaginative, have a wide range of interests, and are independent...
Openness reflects creativity, curiosity, and openness to new experiences. Individuals scoring high in openness are imaginative, have a wide range of interests, and are independent...
2.2K
01:21Impact of Social Context on Individuals
414
Social psychology examines how the real or imagined presence of others influences individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A key concept in this field is the role of social context in shaping behavior. The same individual may act differently depending on the social setting, due to the varying expectations and norms associated with each environment. This context-dependent behavior illustrates the influence of social roles, which prescribe appropriate conduct in specific situations.Social...
414
01:19The Behavioral Perspective on Personality
927
Behaviorists view personality as primarily shaped by environmental reinforcements and consequences. According to this perspective, behavior is influenced by external stimuli, and individuals adjust their actions based on rewards and punishments. Over time, learning histories — accumulated patterns of reinforcement — play a significant role in shaping personality. Behaviors that lead to positive outcomes are reinforced, while those resulting in negative outcomes are diminished.
927
01:30Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality
1.3K
Social cognitive perspectives on personality emphasize the importance of conscious awareness, beliefs, expectations, and goals in shaping behavior. These perspectives incorporate behaviorist principles, such as learning through reinforcement and conditioning, but extend beyond them by highlighting human reasoning and planning. Unlike traditional behaviorist views, social cognitive theory focuses on how individuals reflect on their past experiences and plan for future outcomes by considering...
1.3K