EXTROVERSION, VENTURESOMENESS AND INTELLIGENCE IN CHILDREN

A sample of 10- to 12-year-old Australian children were given modified versions of several WISC-R subtests in order to test Robinson's (Pers onality and Individual Differences; 1985, 6, 203-216; 1986, 7, 153-159 ) view that extraversion (E) is systematically related to scores on ve rbal and performance subtests. The results failed to support predictio ns from Robinson's view, and means were generally in the opposite dire ction to those obtained by Robinson. The data also failed to support t he suggestion of Rawlings and Carnie (Personality and Individual Diffe rences, 1989, 10, 453-458) that the interaction between E and subtest is due to the relative superiority of extraverts on timed subtests. A two-way interaction between Venturesomeness (V) and the timed/untimed condition indicated that best IQ performance was obtained by subjects of medium levels of V. There was a strong three-way interaction betwee n V, timed/untimed condition, and type of subtest. It is suggested tha t the relationship between personality and intelligence is a complex o ne, and that a multivariate approach to the problem might be most usef ul.