The impact of music preferences on the perception of potential friends in adolescence

Displays of lifestyle and aesthetic preference are considered important soc ial indicators in complex, modem society. Such indicators are thought to in fluence first impressions of other persons and also to affect these persons ' appeal as potential friends. The present study investigates teenagers' mu sic preference and the influence of its display on impression formation and on their desirability as friends to peers. Findings of an experiment with 215 high-school students reveal that the perception of shared musical taste : fosters positive character appraisals and enhances friendship aspirations . However, close correspondence between the concept of an ideal friend and the overall impression made by peers was found to be a factor of at least e qual strength in the formation of friendship dispositions. Taste-based ster eotypes were in evidence: It was observed, for instance, that boys, irrespe ctive of their own musical preference, favored boys who appeared to be toug h because of their preference for Rock and Punk much less than hard much gr eater than music, as well as their disdain far Soft-Pop and Love-Songs.