John Brebner

Gender and emotions

Abstract In two groups, one Australian ( n =2199), the other international ( n =6868), gender differences in self-reports of the frequency and intensity of recently experiencing eight emotions were assessed by t -tests, and effect sizes measured using Cohens d ( Cohen, 1992 ). The eight emotions were Affection, Anger, Contentment, Fear, Guilt, Joy, Pride, and Sadness. In the Australian group statistically significant differences between the genders were found for the frequency of Affection, Anger, Fear, Joy, and Sadness with females scoring higher. Males scored higher on Pride. The only intensity differences for the Australian group were for Affection and Sadness where females scored higher, and Pride where males scored higher. For the international sample, significant gender differences for the frequency of Affection, Anger, Contentment, Fear, Joy and Sadness were found with females scoring higher than males. Gender differences in intensity were found for all of the emotions except Pride, again with males scoring higher than females. Expressed in standard deviation units, all of the effect sizes are small, and some are extremely small. The largest effect size was d =0.30 for Affection in the international group.

Spatial relationships and S-R compatibility

Abstract A visual, two-choice RT experiment was performed to assess the effect upon performance of compatibility of three spatial relationships: (1) between signals and response mechanisms, (2) between signals and effector positions, (3) between response mechanisms and effector positions. The data support the interpretation that, in this particular experimental situation, only the compatibility of relationships (1) and (3) affect performance. More generally, the experimental results point to the need to separate the effects of these three relationships which are typically confounded in studies of spatial compatibility.

Relationships between happiness and personality

This study investigated relationships between measures of happiness and personality, using multiple regression and a range of personality measures. Three happiness measures, the Oxford Happiness Inventory, the Personal State Questionnaire (version 5), and the Life Orientation Test produced a multiple R of 0.381 with Psychoticism as the dependent variable. Multiple R values around 0.65 were obtained when the happiness measures were predicted from personality variables. Extraversion and Neuroticism were the main predictors as has been previously found.

The effect of a low rate of regular signals upon the reaction times of introverts and extraverts

Abstract In an RT (reaction time) task involving responding to infrequent, regular signals, extraverts produced higher proportions of missed signals and lengthened RTs than introverts did. This result was only obtained after some time on task and is evidence that inhibitory states are formed more rapidly in extraverted subjects under low stimulation conditions. In a more extended version of the task, mean RT was found to be longer in extraverted than introverted subjects in the second half of the experiment though there was no significant difference between the groups in the first half. These findings are complementary to data from previous studies showing that extraverts generate stronger inhibitory potential in continuous responding tasks, or that their characteristic arousal level may be lower than that of introverted subjects. The need to distinguish between the different explanatory constructs is discussed and a simple model amalgamating the major theoretical positions is outlined.

S-R compatibility and changes in RT with practice☆

Abstract A visual, two-choice RT experiment was performed to assess the effect of practice on compatibility effects. The data are interpreted as showing that identification of the position of the hand gradually becomes independent of the hands normal side. Further analysis suggests that “compatible” or “natural” relationships are those in which a single recoding process can be successfully applied to all the relevant spatial relationships. This gives rise to the further prediction that where all relationships are uniformly “incompatible”, performance will be better than where there is a mixture of “compatible” and “incompatible” relationships.

Stimulus- or response-induced excitation. A comparison of the behavior of introverts and extraverts

Abstract The tendency to inspect visual material (slides) rather than to respond by pressing a key in an attempt to move on to the next slide, was compared among introverts and extraverts. As predicted from Brebner and Cooper (1974) : (1) extraverts inspected the stimuli for a shorter time before making their first response, (2) extraverts made more responses at a faster rate than introverts did, and (3) extraverts produced a significantly higher proportion of runs of accelerating responses.

Personality and stress coping

Abstract Using different tests from those employed in the two original studies, this research attempted to reproduce the relationships noted between the Big Five and stress-coping approaches [ Costa Jr., P.T., Somerfield, M.R., & McCrae, R.R. (1996). Personality and coping: a reconceptualization. In M. Zeidner, & N.S. Endler, Handbook of coping: theory, research, applications. New York: Wiley ], and the pattern of happiness scores for Happy, Labile, Stable and Unhappy groups found by Brebner [ Brebner, J. (1998). Happiness and personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 25, 279–296 ]. To a substantial degree these results reproduce the original findings. Four out of six predictions for scores on the Big Five and stress coping were supported. The same order for happiness scores as Brebner found was again obtained though not all of the paired comparisons between groups were significant.

Stereotypes for direction-of-movement of rotary controls associated with linear displays: the effects of scale presence and position, of pointer direction, and distances between the control and the display

This study attempted to replicate the findings of Brebner and Sandow (1976) and to illuminate further the variables which affect peoples direction-of-movemcnt expectations for rotary controls used to control vertical linear displays. The results support the Brebner and Sandow study showing that when the control is located directly above or below the display, the pointer on the display is expected to move in the same direction as that side of the control knob on the same side as the scale markings on the display. In the absence of a scale but using a directional (arrow-type) pointer, the pointers direction determines which side of the control knob is associated with it and expected to move in the same direction. As expected, when the control is located to the side of the display, the stereotype described by Warricks (1947) principle is stronger if (he pointer points away from the control than it is if it points toward the control.

The Effect of Scale Side on Population Stereotype

This study set out to investigate the influence of scale side and pointer typo on direction-of-turn stereotypes for various configurations of a vertical linear display with a rotary control. It was found that when the control is located vertically above or below the display the indicator is expected to move in the same direction as that part of the control On the same side as the scale. This effect is facilitated by use of a directional rather than a neutral indicator Further, for controls located at the side of the display, the stereotype described by Warricks principle is stronger when reinforced by this scale side effect, i.e. when the scale is on the opposite side of the display to the control, than when on the same side in which position Warricks principle and the scale side effect oppose each other.

Theoretical and Empirical Relationships between Personality and Intelligence

What theoretical relationships have been postulated between intelligence and personality? The short answer is that there are very few in the mainstream of Western personality research. Even books titled Intelligence and Personality (Heim, 1970) turn out to be more about intelligence than personality. Despite the separation that generally exists between psychologists working in these areas, there are some cases (e.g., Baron, 1982) where there is clearly a sufficient communality of interests for the different approaches to overlap. This is evident for areas of intellectual functioning like creativity or cognitive style (see Brody, 1972), but the prevailing tendency is to treat intelligence and personality as independent.