Popular culture often portrays psychopaths with one weird twist. It is believed that bloodthirsty maniacs and asocial personalities are carried away by classical music. But are the filmmakers and bestselling horror authors so right? Let's find out what the preferences of notorious psychopaths really are.
Sound Effects in Horror Movies
Psychopaths and scary monsters appear before us on wide screens to the sounds of bowed and wind instruments. As the shark from Jaws approaches unsuspecting beach-goers, the ominous notes of tuba only fuel the intrigue. In Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, the piercing play of the violin helps viewers to forever remember one of the most culminating murder scenes in cinema history. And this despite the fact that in itself the death of the heroine was not so bloody.
Distinctive signs of maniacs
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Since the mid-20th century, accented and dramatic sounds of classical instruments have become a trend in the horror genre. Movie fans believe they are the hallmark of bloody maniacs. For example, the cruel cannibal Dr. Lecter was such a connoisseur of classical music that he killed the violinist for faking his performance. However, now scientists have found that the hallmark of asocial personalities is a different genre of music.
Experiment progress
The study, conducted by staff at New York University, involved 200 people. In total, the volunteers listened to 260 different soundtracks. Participants were asked to rate each song, while the researchers conducted a psychopathy test. As a result, rap and R&B genres with the accompaniment of rock instruments are the most preferred for asocial personalities.
Specific songs and music performers
When it came to figuring out the specific preferences of psychopathic individuals, Patrick Bateman's beloved band, Huey Lewis and the News, was not on the list of contenders. Scientists have found that for asocial personalities in songs, characteristic protest or vulgar texts are primary, and only then are framing in the form of monotonous music, gradually gaining momentum.
Two of the most psychopathic songs are Eminem's song "Lose Yourself" and the rather psychedelic composition of the Blackstreet group "No Diggity" ("No doubt"). The least favorite songs of psychopaths were "My Sharona" by The Knack and "Titanium" by Australian singer and songwriter Sia.
Inga Kaisina