TEMPERAMENT AND RESPONSE PROCESSING - FACILITATORY AND INHIBITORY CONSEQUENCES OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE MOTIVATIONAL STATES

Individual differences in response facilitation and inhibition were as sessed through a modified go/no go task presented in alternating posit ive (where points could be gained) and negative (where points could be lost) incentive blocks. Neurotic extraverts showed enhanced facilitat ion on positive blocks following positive feedback. Neurotic introvert s and individuals high in STAI trait anxiety showed enhanced inhibitio n on negative blocks. Individuals high in I7 impulsiveness showed gene rally low inhibition. These results support models proposing that posi tive incentive motivation and its facilitatory response consequences p eak in neurotic extraverts, whereas negative incentive motivation and its inhibitory effects peak in neurotic introverts. However, neurotic introverts were also relatively fast in responding following negative feedback, which confirms recent reports of ''anxious impulsivity.'' (C ) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.