Unstable in more ways than one: reaction time variability and the neuroticism/distress relationship

Journal of Personality
Michael D RobinsonBrian P Meier

Abstract

The authors hypothesized that a greater degree of stimulus-response variability could either serve adaptive or maladaptive control purposes, depending on levels of Neuroticism. Specifically, a more variable relation between stimulus and response may be emotionally beneficial if such flexibility is used to support non-neurotic forms of self-regulation, but costly if it is used to support neurotic forms of self-regulation. To investigate these ideas, the authors asked 232 college undergraduates within three studies to perform several choice reaction time (RT) tasks. On the basis of performance, we could quantify stimulus-response variability in terms of RT variability from trial to trial. Such a measure of stimulus-response variability interacted with Neuroticism in predicting momentary negative affect (Study 1), informant judgments of negative affect (Study 2), and informant judgments of anxious symptoms (Study 3). As hypothesized, greater stimulus-response variability tended to be associated with less distress among individuals low in Neuroticism, but more distress among individuals high in Neuroticism. The results highlight the manner in which Neuroticism may "taint" control functions, in turn reinforcing Neuroticism-linked ou...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1990·Behaviour Research and Therapy·A Mathews
Feb 1, 1987·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·D C Funder, K M Dobroth
Oct 1, 1995·Psychological Review·D C Funder
Nov 1, 1993·The American Psychologist·J ShedlerM Manis
May 29, 2000·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·G BushM I Posner
Aug 31, 2000·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·J D TeasdaleM A Lau
Mar 7, 2001·Psychological Science·W J GehringL G Nisenson
Feb 28, 2002·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·David F HultschRoger A Dixon
Oct 31, 2002·Psychological Bulletin·Michael D Robinson, Gerald L Clore
Jan 16, 2003·Physiology & Behavior·Vincent van Veen, Cameron S Carter
Oct 11, 2003·Science·Naomi I EisenbergerKipling D Williams
May 20, 2004·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·D S Moskowitz, David C Zuroff
Jul 24, 2004·Psychological Science·Michael D RobinsonEmily C Solberg
Jul 16, 2005·Health Care for Women International·Wilfreda E ThurstonErin Rutherford
Aug 3, 2005·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Michael D Robinson, Maya Tamir
Feb 16, 2006·Journal of Experimental Psychology. General·Michael D RobinsonBrian P Meier
Nov 14, 1890·Science·W James

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 25, 2011·Journal of Personality Assessment·Michael D Robinson, Kathryn H Gordon
Apr 29, 2008·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·David BunceFrank W Bond
Aug 7, 2010·Advances in Cognitive Psychology·Michael B SteinbornRobert Langner
Apr 1, 2014·Personality and Individual Differences·Elizabeth MunozHeather A King
Jan 12, 2007·Journal of Personality·Michael D Robinson, Gerald L Clore
Mar 29, 2018·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Elizabeth MunozStuart W S MacDonald
Apr 12, 2019·Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health : CP & EMH·Susana RodriguesJoão Paulo S Cunha
May 19, 2021·Accident; Analysis and Prevention·Marcin Piotr Biernacki, Rafał Lewkowicz

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.