Extraversion, Neuroticism and Susceptibility to Positive and Negative Mood Induction Procedures

Recent correlational research suggests that Extraversion is associated with a predisposition to experience positive affect, whereas Neuroticism is associated with a predisposition to experience negative affect. Using Gray’s (A Model for Personality, pp. 246-276, 1981) terms, such results may be due to differential sensitivity to signals of reward and punishment on the part of Extraverts and Neurotics, respectively. Assuming that signals of reward generate positive affect and signals of punishment (or frustrative non-reward) generate negative affect, we hypothesized that the efficacy of a negative affect induction would be better predicted from Neuroticism than Extraversion scores, whereas the efficacy of a positive affect induction should be better predicted from Extraversion than Neuroticism scores. In the current study a laboratory mood induction technique (false feedback of success and failure) was used to induce positive and negative affect, and its effectiveness was assessed using standard mood adjective ratings. Results support the hypothesis that Extraverts (compared to Introverts) show heightened emotional reactivity to positive (but not negative) mood induction procedures, whereas Neurotics (compared to Stable individuals) show heightened emotional reactivity to negative (but not positive) mood induction procedures. Results are discussed in terms of an emotion-based approach to personality theory, and directions for future research are suggested.