A man is known by the ringtone that plays on his cellphone. Or so, city-based psychologists would have us believe.
So the next time you put Kaanta Laga, Smoke On The Water or a tune composed by Yanni on your phone, it could very well be your calling card. For, the psychologists say ringtones can be an indicator whether a person is an extrovert or not, if one is pretentious or speaks one’s mind.
A recent survey by a British company gave an insight into the world of cell phone users. According to it, those who constantly change ringtones to whatever is currently on the charts are unreliable by nature, while those who opt for classical music are regarded pretentious.
Psychologist Amarnath Mallick points out that although conducted in Britain, the survey speaks volumes about cellphone users across the city.
“The kind of music people listen to is definitely a reflection of their personality,” he says. “With the advent of cellphones as a major communication and lifestyle tool, the primary reason behind using ringtones is to maintain one’s individuality. In a bid to be different from the rest, people often slip up and give out their inner feelings.”
Dr Mallick pointed out that the use of Rabindrasangeet as ringtones go on to say that that the user has a soothing personality and is soft by nature. “On the other hand, if a phone boasts of its owner’s voice or of family members, it reveals that he is self-obsessed,” he said. People with rude or animal sounds as their ringtone are immature, he said.
{{/usCountry}}Dr Mallick pointed out that the use of Rabindrasangeet as ringtones go on to say that that the user has a soothing personality and is soft by nature. “On the other hand, if a phone boasts of its owner’s voice or of family members, it reveals that he is self-obsessed,” he said. People with rude or animal sounds as their ringtone are immature, he said.
{{/usCountry}}The survey, meanwhile, found that 21 per cent of cellphone users feel that having a standard ring tone is “uncool”, indicating a lack of daring and fear of technology. In fact, almost 25 per cent of phone users admitted that the first thing they do after buying a new phone is selecting a ringtone and downloading several others to suit their changing moods.
“As for those with loud rock music as ringtones, the users try to attract the attention of others,” Dr Mallick said. “This, however, means that they are actually trying to overcome their insecurity through a show of superiority. When people taken note of their loud tone, their self-importance receives a boost.”
Even “singtones”, which welcome most callers these days, play a similar role. Psychiatrist Arnab Banerjee said those using rabindrasangeet, old Bengali numbers and Country hits usually are of a calm disposition and don’t lose their temper too often. They are basically artistic in approach.
However, those using classical rock numbers are melancholic by nature and are usually introverts,” Banerjee said.
Cellphone users with hit Hindi songs, techno music or foot tapping numbers in any language are, on the other hand, extrovert and outgoing. “They make friends faster than others and are often the centre of attraction at social gatherings,” Dr Banerjee said.