Neuroticism predicts reactions to cues of social inclusion

Abstract

In the current paper, we hypothesized that people who are high in neuroticism (N) share a motivational predisposition to react vigilantly to threatening cues, most of which tend to be social in humans. In three studies, support for this prediction was found: based on cross-sectional and diary data, it was found that the self-esteem (SE) of individuals high in N decreases more in response to perceptions of relationship conflict and low relationship quality than that of emotionally stable ones. In a study of people's reactions to imagined threats, neurotic individuals showed a heightened sensitivity to both nonsocial and social cues, though reactions to social cues were somewhat more pronounced. Results are consistent with principles from evolutionary and process-oriented personality psychology.

Personality Processes: Mechanisms by Which Personality Traits “Get Outside the Skin”

“…Higher neuroticism was associated with stronger appraisal-emotion associations, confirming that, for example, a more neurotic person reacts to unfair events with more anger than a less neurotic person. In a similar vein, Denissen & Penke (2008) found that the relation between poor relationship quality and low self-esteem was stronger for people high on neuroticism. Wasylkiw and colleagues investigated whether neuroticism moderated the effect on depression of ideal self-discrepancy, an aversive state in which one is failing to live up to one’s aspirations (Wasylkiw et al 2010).…”

Developing a Social Enterprise Performance Scale and Examining the Relationship Between Entrepreneurs’ Personality Traits and Their Perceived Enterprise Performance

“…Neurotic people are typically insecure, irritable, easily disturbed, and lacking in self-confidence. They are generally impulsive and have been observed to undermine the social fabric of teams (Denissen & Penke, 2008;Rothmann & Coetzer, 2003). People exhibiting high levels of neuroticism are prone to irrational thought, impulsive behaviour, and applying poor coping strategies in stressful situations (Rothmann & Coetzer, 2003).…”

Interpersonal Neurobiology and Couple Relationship Quality: A Longitudinal Model

“…Those who have high selfacceptance are less likely to be affected by negative life circumstances (Chamberlain and Haaga 2001), which contributes to emotional stability. Neuroticism has been associated in many studies with decreased marital and couple relationship satisfaction (see Malouff et al 2010 for meta-analysis) and an increased reactivity to social exclusion (Denissen and Penke 2008). From an attachment perspective, emotional stability is linked to optimal care from caregivers because as parents provide a stable and responsive environment, children develop an internal working model of the world as safe (Bowlby 1988).…”