Interactions and reinforcement sensitivity theory: A theoretical analysis of Rusting and Larsen (1997)

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Pickering, Alan; Corr, PJ and Gray, JA. 1999. Interactions and reinforcement sensitivity theory: A theoretical analysis of Rusting and Larsen (1997). Personality and Individual Differences, 26(2), pp. 357-365. ISSN 0191-8869) [Article]

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In a recent paper C. L. Rusting and R. J. Larsen (see record 1997-04006-002) studied the relationship between positive/negative mood induction and personality traits (extraversion, E; neuroticism, N). They showed that positive mood induction was positively correlated with E and negative mood induction was positively correlated with N and negatively correlated with E. In neither case did an N*E interaction term explain any variance in mood induction over and above that explained by the trait measures entered separately. They argued that the absence of this interaction term was critical evidence for the failure of Gray's theory of E and N and concluded that these data would fit better within Eysenck's original theoretical framework. This commentary argues that these conclusions are based on an incorrect account of Gray's theory. The correct interpretation is that individuals' susceptibilities to punishment and reward signals (e.g. mood induction cues) are predicted to be additive combinations of E and N, so that statistical interactions between E and N in explaining mood induction are not expected under this theory. The reasons why Rusting and Larsen may have mistakenly placed so much emphasis on N*E interactions are considered.

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Article

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https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(98)00019-1