This study explores the contribution of personality dimensions as a source of individual variability, to electrodermal arousal, subjective ratings of intensity and time to resolution (TTR) of emotional responses to affectively valenced images.

Healthy volunteers (n=48) viewed 54 images from the International Affective Picture System equally split in positive, negative and neutral categories. Subjects pressed a button to view the next image when their response had naturally subsided (passive condition) or following voluntary suppression (active condition) and then rated the intensity of their response on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 9 (highest). The amplitude of the maximum peak of skin conductance responses (SCRs) was also measured. Personality dimensions were assessed with the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPQ-Neuroticism, EPQ-Psychoticism and EPQ-Extraversion).

Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the effect of EPQ-P, EPQ-N and EPQ-P on TTR, intensity ratings, and maximum SCR amplitude in each experimental condition.

The emotional valence of the pictures was the strongest predictor of all 3 main outcome measures in both active and passive condition accounting for 36% of the variance for TTR, 72% for the intensity ratings and 16% for the maximum SCR amplitude. Higher EPQ-Psychoticism scores predicted lower intensity ratings accounting for about 10% of the variance in both conditions. EPQ-Extraversion and EPQ-Neuroticism explained 15% of the variance in TTR but in opposite directions. Higher EPQ-Neuroticism scores predicted lower SCR amplitude accounting for 8% of the variance.

Measures of emotional reactivity show distinct patterns depending on experimental condition and personality characteristics.