TY - JOUR

T1 - The role of impulse and interference control in aversive personality

T2 - A comprehensive assessment

AU - Moshagen, Morten

AU - Bader, Martina

AU - Zettler, Ingo

AU - Hilbig, Benjamin E.

N1 - Funding Information: Preparation of this manuscript was supported by Grant ZE 948/1-1 to Ingo Zettler, as well as Grant HI 1600/6-1 to Benjamin E. Hilbig by the German Research Foundation ( DFG ). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors

PY - 2023/9

Y1 - 2023/9

N2 - Ethically and socially aversive behaviors have been attributed to several personality traits, including characteristics collectively referred to under the umbrella term of impulsivity. It is an open question, however, whether such characteristics are an integral part of ethically and socially aversive personality. Relying on three large samples (total N = 9854) and implementing longitudinal assessments, the present study provides a comprehensive investigation of the role of impulse and interference control in aversive personality. Based on contemporary conceptualizations of the impulsivity domain, a total of 17 dimensions spanning both self-reports and behavioral tasks are assessed. To represent aversive personality, we consider the D Factor of Personality (D), i.e., the basic disposition shared by all aversive traits. Results indicate that D co-occurs with a deficit in inhibiting the incorrect action when multiple actions are available, a preference for immediate rewards while failing to consider the consequences of one's actions, and maladaptive behavior directed towards regulating strong affect. However, most associations between D and dimensions of impulsivity were small or non-significant, thereby disconfirming the notion that characteristics related to a lack of impulse control are an integral feature of aversive personality in general.

AB - Ethically and socially aversive behaviors have been attributed to several personality traits, including characteristics collectively referred to under the umbrella term of impulsivity. It is an open question, however, whether such characteristics are an integral part of ethically and socially aversive personality. Relying on three large samples (total N = 9854) and implementing longitudinal assessments, the present study provides a comprehensive investigation of the role of impulse and interference control in aversive personality. Based on contemporary conceptualizations of the impulsivity domain, a total of 17 dimensions spanning both self-reports and behavioral tasks are assessed. To represent aversive personality, we consider the D Factor of Personality (D), i.e., the basic disposition shared by all aversive traits. Results indicate that D co-occurs with a deficit in inhibiting the incorrect action when multiple actions are available, a preference for immediate rewards while failing to consider the consequences of one's actions, and maladaptive behavior directed towards regulating strong affect. However, most associations between D and dimensions of impulsivity were small or non-significant, thereby disconfirming the notion that characteristics related to a lack of impulse control are an integral feature of aversive personality in general.

KW - Aversive traits

KW - D factor

KW - Impulsivity

KW - Interference control

U2 - 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.104018

DO - 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.104018

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37677870

AN - SCOPUS:85169793887

VL - 239

JO - Acta Psychologica

JF - Acta Psychologica

SN - 0001-6918

M1 - 104018

ER -