برونگرایی و تکانشگری رفتاری

Previous research demonstrates low correlations between paper-and-pencil and behavioral measures of impulsivity in normal volunteer subjects. These low correlations may be due to laboratory testing conducted under low arousal conditions that allows impulsive subjects to restrain their impulsive behaviors. It was hypothesized that a mental stressor will increase impulsive behaviors in extraverts. 41 subjects underwent a negative (speech about negative aspects of oneself) and a positive (speech about a happy time in their life) mental stressor and 12 subjects underwent a neutral mood induction. Analyses of affective changes indicated that the mental stressors were effective in changing mood. Analyses of impulsive behaviors (indexed by errors of commission in the Go/No Go task) showed that extraverts demonstrate greater errors of commission than introverts and neurotic introverts demonstrate greater errors of omission than other subjects. The mental stressors were not effective in increasing impulsive behaviors. A plausible explanation is that the monetary reward in the Go/No Go task masked any effect mental stressors may have had on errors of commission.