Susceptibility to positive and negative mood states: test of Eysenck’s, Gray’s and Newman’s theories

The study examined the relationships of extraversion and neuroticism with trait anxiety and impulsivity, and how extraversion and neuroticism, and impulsivity and anxiety are related to negative and positive mood states. Subjects completed questionnaires covering extraversion, neuroticism, anxiety and impulsivity, and were divided randomly into two mood induction groups: positive (N=50) and negative (N=48). The positive mood induction group was provided with money, progressively, during performance of a go/no-go task, while for the negative mood induction group, money was progressively withdrawn during task performance. Results showed that negative mood induction was predicted by neuroticism and extraversion×neuroticism, while positive mood induction was predicted by extraversion. Anxiety and impulsivity also predicted negative and positive mood induction, respectively. These findings are discussed in the context of Eysenck’s, Gray’s and Newman’s theories of personality and mood.