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Extraversion and reward-related processing: probing incentive motivation in affective priming tasks
Michael D Robinson1, Sara K Moeller, Scott Ode
1Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA. michael.d.robinson@ndsu.edu
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|November 3, 2010
Summary
Extraverts show stronger positive emotional responses to stimuli compared to introverts, according to incentive motivation theory. This finding was consistent across four studies on affective priming tasks.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Personality Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Incentive motivation theory links extraversion to reward sensitivity.
- Previous research has not fully integrated trait and biological models of extraversion.
- Affective priming tasks measure emotional response biases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if extraverts exhibit enhanced positive affective priming effects.
- To investigate the relationship between extraversion and affective priming.
- To bridge biological and trait perspectives on incentive motivation.
Main Methods:
- Four studies were conducted with 229 undergraduate participants.
- Participants completed affective priming tasks involving words and pictures.
- Extraversion levels were assessed and correlated with priming effects.
Main Results:
- Extraversion positively predicted positive affective priming effects.
- No significant relationship was found between extraversion and negative affective priming.
- Results were consistent across individual studies and a combined analysis.
Conclusions:
- Extraverts demonstrate heightened sensitivity to positive stimuli, supporting incentive motivation theory.
- Findings contribute to understanding the processing basis of extraversion and incentive motivation.
- The study integrates trait and biological models of personality.
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