EXTROVERSION, NEUROTICISM, AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE AFFECT - A TEST OF 2 THEORETICAL-MODELS

Two different theoretical models have been used to explain relationshi ps between the personality dimensions of extraversion and neuroticism and the affect dimensions of positive and negative mood. Eysenck's mod el predicts that extraversion should relate to positive affect, but no t negative affect, and that neuroticism should relate to negative affe ct, but not positive affect. The model proposed by Gray and Newman ass erts that there should be an interaction between extraversion and neur oticism in predicting positive and negative affect, such that the rela tionship between neuroticism and affect depends on one's position on t he extraversion dimension. The purpose of the present study is to test these two theoretical models (Eysenck or Gray/Newman) in relation to positive and negative affect susceptibility. Results best fit predicti ons derived from Eysenck's model. Extraversion was positively related to positive affect following a pleasant mood induction, and neuroticis m was positively related to negative affect following a negative mood induction. There was no evidence for an extraversion x neuroticism int eraction in predicting emotional reactions, as would be expected from the Gray/Newman model. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.