Neuroticism's link to threat sensitivity: Evidence from a dynamic affect reactivity task.

Abstract

The personality trait of neuroticism has been theoretically linked to threat sensitivity, but this perspective of neuroticism has resulted in mixed findings, arguably because mood states, rather than emotional reactions, have been examined. The present studies (total N = 519) administered a task capable of assessing emotional reactions-to appetitive versus aversive images-in a nearly continuous manner, parsing threat sensitivity in terms of emotional onsets, peak amplitudes, and prototypicality in responding. In the context of this tight temporal focus, higher levels of neuroticism tended to be associated with faster emotional onsets when aversive images were involved. In addition, neuroticism by valence interactions occurred with respect to peak amplitudes and prototypic patterning, with negativity effects for these parameters being amplified at higher, relative to lower, levels of neuroticism. These results link the neuroticism and emotion dynamics literatures while providing novel support for perspectives that emphasize neuroticism's link to threat sensitivity, in the present context defined in terms of faster, stronger, and more prototypical reactions to acute aversive events. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).