Personality as a Determinant of Paired-Associates Learning

Predictions based on theories of verbal learning proposed by Spence and Eysenck were compared by presenting either a non-competitive or competitive list of paired-associates to groups of sixth form grammar school boys containing 42 and 59 Ss respectively. The only relation found between drive level as measured by either the MAS or A-state scale was that medium-scoring MAS Ss performed significantly worse than high- or low-scoring Ss on the competitive list. Support was obtained for the hypotheses, firstly, that performance would be related to Eysenck's hypothetical dimension of arousal ranging from stable extraversion to neurotic introversion in the manner described by the inverse-U relation, and, secondly, that good performance on the competitive list would be related to extraversion.

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