Attentional performance, gender and an index of excitability

Introversion-extraversion and gender effects on attention were investigated. Eysenck's theory, based on excitability, underlying the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire suggests introverts perform better than extraverts on tasks of time to first identification, and number identified in an attentional task (discerning differences between two similar cartoons). Based on 45 college students, gender-specific analysis showed increasing extroversion in men tended to relate to poorer performance in number identified, and longer times in first identification, while opposite relationships were found for women. Findings suggest gender differences on the EPQ and differential gender effects of EPQ-defined extraversion on attentional tasks. Eysenck's theory appeared upheld for men but not women. Extraversion defined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (based on Jungian theory) was related to fewer numbers identified and longer times for first identification. Further research is needed to better identify underpinnings of this personality dimension and conditions for its effects.