Heavy Mental
Many parents may regard it as a deafening din, but liking heavy metal may be a sign of intelligence in youngsters.
New research suggests clever teenagers listen to it as a way of coping with the pressures of being talented.
A study of 1000 of the country’s brightest adolescents revealed “metalheads” are often extremely bright.
“There
is a perception of gifted and talented students as being into classical
music and spending a lot of time reading,” Stuart Cadwallader, from
Warwick University, said.
“There is literature that links heavy
metal to poor academic performance and delinquency, but we found a
group that contradicts that.
“We are looking at a group with lower than average self-esteem that does not feel quite so well adjusted.
“They feel more stressed out and turn to heavy metal as a way of relieving that stress.”
The study revealed those who enjoyed heavy metal often had more difficuilties in their relationships with family and friends.
One of those questioned in the survey said: “It’s the general thrashiness of it.
“You can’t really jump your anger into the floor and listen to your music at the same time with other types of music.”
Being brainy is not limited to the music’s fans though.
Iron Maiden’s lead singer, Bruce Dickinson, is a history graduate as well as being a novelist and qualified commercial pilot.
The survey involved 1,057 members of the National Academy for Gifted and talented Youth.