Citation

Papousek I, Aydin N, Rominger C, Feyaerts K, Schmid-Zalaudek K, Lackner HK, Fink A, Schulter G, Weiss EM. Biol. Psychol. 2017; 132: 106-115.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology Unit, University of Graz, Austria.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.11.010

PMID

29191761

Abstract

Expressions of affect communicate social messages, which trigger approach and withdrawal/avoidance motivational tendencies in the observer. The present study investigated relationships between inter-individual differences in the motivational responses to other people's affect expressions and DSM-5 personality trait domains. State-dependent, transient EEG alpha asymmetry responses provided indicators of the relative activation of withdrawal versus approach motivation in the respective social-emotional contexts. The Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 (PID-5) was used for the assessment of personality traits in a non-clinical sample. Individuals with higher levels of Antagonism showed relative activation of approach versus withdrawal motivation (as indicated by less relative right frontal activation) in response to confrontation with auditory expressions of angry aggression, whereas participants with higher levels of Detachment showed relative activation of withdrawal versus approach motivation (as indicated by greater relative right frontal activation) to the perception of other people's desperate crying.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Affect expressions; Approach; Avoidance; EEG asymmetry; PID-5; Social signals