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How do extraversion and neuroticism relate to the frequency, intensity, and duration of positive and negative affect?
It is well-established that extraversion is associated with positive affect and that neuroticism is associated with negative affect. A recent study (Verduyn & Brans, 2012) appearing in Personality and Individual Differences attempted a more fine-grained analysis of the links between personality and affect by examining three affective components, namely frequency (how many times an affect occurred), intensity (the strength of the affect), and duration (how long the affect lasted). Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing extraversion and neuroticism and then reported on daily experience of positive and negative affect in terms of the components described above for one week. Correlational analyses revealed that extraversion was associated with frequency, intensity, and duration of positive affect, whereas neuroticism was associated with frequency and duration of negative affect. When components of affect were entered in regressions predicting personality, duration of positive affect was the best predictor of extraversion, whereas frequency of negative affect was the best predictor of neuroticism.
Verduyn, Philippe, & Brans, Karen. (2012). The relationship between extraversion, neuroticism and aspects of trait affect. Personality and Individual Differences, 52(6), 664-669. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2011.12.017