EFFECTS OF PSYCHOTICISM, EXTRAVERSION, AND NEUROTICISM IN CURRENT MOOD - A STATISTICAL REVIEW OF 6 STUDIES

Eleven mood scales were employed in four of all of six studies in which a combined total of 172 subjects recorded their mood 'right now' on from three to twenty occasions and in a variety of conditions. Effects of Psychoticism, Extraversion and Neuroticism were examined in a statistical review. Stronger correlations with average mood than with mood variation suggested some pervasive effects from both Neuroticism and Extraversion. The combination of high Neuroticism and low Extraversion was associated with more negative and less positive average mood and some greater mood variation, whereas low Neuroticism and high Extraversion made for better and more stable mood. These small personality influences modify a natural pattern of basically positive mood interrupted occasionally by more negative states. The pervasive effect of Extraversion helps to preserve positive mood. The active influences of Neuroticism are upon negative affect, and include an element which augments depressed feelings. © 1990.