The effects of extraversion and arousal on intelligence test performance

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Abstract
Theories of the extraversion personality trait predict interactive effects of extraversion and arousal on performance from the Yerkes‐Dodson law, though the relationship between extraversion and arousal has been variously described as linear and negative, or dependent upon the level of arousing influences (‘arousal potential’), or dependent upon time of day. The experiment reported here tested both the general utility of the arousal theory approach and specific theories of the extraversion‐arousal relationship by investigating effects of two different arousal manipulations (complex noise and time of day) on intelligence test performance. Arousal was also directly measured by questionnaire. Consistent with previous research on self‐report arousal, extraversion and questionnaire ‘activation’ appeared to be independent. However, a significant interactive effect on performance was found, such that extraverts tended to perform relatively better under high activation at midday than did introverts, but introverts performed relatively better under high activation in the evening. These data suggest that arousal theory does not explain adequately the observed interactive effect on complex cognitive task performance. Thus the Yerkes‐Dodson law is not of central importance for theories of the effects of extraversion on performance.

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