Sensation Seeking, Eysenck’s Personality Dimensions and Reinforcement Sensitivity in Concept Formation*

The relationship between the SSS and EPQ personality dimensions and reinforcement sensitivity was examined in 140 undergraduates using a non-reversal shift concept formation task. Differences in reinforcement sensitivity related to sensation seeking (SS) were not found, although this trait and the EPQ scales were correlated with the Reward and Punishment Expectancy scales from a newly developed questionnaire (GRAPES). The superior concept learning of high neuroticism subjects was markedly disrupted by the frustration of an abrupt change in reinforcement contingency. There was some support for past research findings that introverts and low psychoticism (P) subjects were more inhibited by punishment than extraverts and high P subjects.