"The studies have been led by Dr. Jason Rentfrow, from the University's Department of Social and Developmental Psychology and a Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, who is conducting ongoing research into the links between personality and musical taste.

His work forms the subject of a new short film, "The Music In Me", produced as part of the "Cambridge Ideas" series marking the University's 800th anniversary and available from Saturday August 22nd at http://www.800.cam.ac.uk/page/145/cambridge-ideas-the-music-in-me.htm. A new analysis also appears in the psychology journal, Group Processes And Intergroup Relations.

The results show that music is a powerful form of social expression that can reinforce stereotypes and, potentially, social prejudices. By stating a preference for a musical style, many of us appear to use music as a "badge" to tell people about our personality and values. "