Agentic extraversion as a predictor of effort-related cardiovascular response.
The present study examined an extraversion-based extension of the integrative model of cardiovascular effort regulation by Wright and Kirby [Wright, R.A., Kirby, L.D., 2001. Effort determination of cardiovascular response: an integrative analysis with applications in social psychology. In: Zanna, M.P. (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Academic Press, San Diego, CA, pp. 255-307.]. This model explains cardiovascular effort reactivity in terms of task difficulty, ability appraisal, and success importance. Aggregate measures of cardiovascular variables (alpha-adrenergic, beta-adrenergic, and cholinergic activation components) were used to measure extraversion-based differences in effort. Subjects performed a sequential letter task (n-back verbal working memory task) with four levels of difficulty. Agentic extraverts (n=10) appraised their ability and happiness as significantly higher than introverts (n=10). Introverts showed the expected shark-fin shaped pattern of effort-related cardiovascular reactivity for the alpha-adrenergic and cholinergic activation components. Effort decreased after the moderately difficult 2-back task. Results provide first evidence for an extraversion-based extension of the model and are discussed with regard to mood and resource allocation as possible mechanisms.
Kemper
Christoph J
CJ
Gutenberg-University Mainz, Faculty of Psychology, Staudingerweg 9, D-55099 Mainz, Germany. kemperc@uni-mainz.de
Leue
Anja
A
Wacker
Jan
J
Chavanon
Mira-Lynn
ML
Hennighausen
Erwin
E
Stemmler
Gerhard
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002319:Cardiovascular System; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007439:Introversion, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014705:Verbal Behavior