Findings from research by Stuart Cadwallader, a psychologist at the University of Warwick.
The study recruited 1,057 students from the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth (NAGTY) between the ages of 11 and 18. The children were asked in detail about their family, relationships with peers, leisure activities and, as if by chance, about their favorite music.
Scientists have come to the conclusion that intelligent adolescents who are ahead of their peers in mental development more often than others listen to heavy rock (heavy metal). This music helps to cope with the difficulties of adolescence, with the pressure exerted by the social sphere on gifted adolescents, helps to level the consequences of social rejection of society.
“There are certain stereotypes in society. So it is believed that if you are an intellectual then you listen to classical music, but now we have found out that this is not entirely true. Among gifted adolescents, there is a high percentage of people who prefer classic metal,”says Cadwallader.
Scientists have discovered the dependence of intelligence on musical preferences.
The lowest results in IQ tests were shown by those who have been fond of hip-hop and r'n'b for many years. Rappers, therefore, are called the most "dim-witted" among all the subjects. For the tests, both classical IQ tests and traditional tests according to the school curriculum were used, which included basic general educational material. Their peers, who prefer classical and symphonic music, had higher rates. To the great chagrin of parents, those children who like heavy music and rock also have some of the highest IQs.