Abstract

This study sought to test if trait levels of impulsivity were related in a nonmonotonic manner to success on a laboratory task of impulsivity. Participants completed the MMPI-2-RF, a self-report measure of psychopathology, and the Angling Risk Task (ART), a laboratory measure of impulsivity. Variables of interest were T-scores on the MMPI-2-RF scale Behavioral/Externalizing Dysfunction (BXD) and total money earned on the ART, which was conceptualized as a measure of success on the task. After screening, the sample consisted of 173 undergraduate students. The findings showed no evidence to support a nonmonotonic relationship between BXD scores and success on the Angling Risk Task when tested by (1) polynomial regression, and (2) the two lines test, a procedure recently developed to detect nonmonotonicity. Results do not support the hypothesis of an optimal level of impulsivity, at least in a nonclinical population and with a laboratory operationalization of impulsivity. Future studies should examine this question in samples with greater variability and using more consequential operationalizations of impulsivity.

摘要

这项研究试图测试冲动的特质水平是否以非单调的方式与冲动的实验室任务的成功相关。参与者完成了 MMPI-2-RF，一种精神病理学的自我报告测量，以及钓鱼风险任务 (ART)，一种冲动的实验室测量。感兴趣的变量是 MMPI-2-RF 量表行为/外化功能障碍 (BXD) 上的 T 分数和通过 ART 获得的总收入，这被概念化为任务成功的衡量标准。经筛选，样本为173名本科生。当通过 (1) 多项式回归和 (2) 两条线测试（最近开发的用于检测非单调性的程序）进行测试时，研究结果显示没有证据支持 BXD 分数与钓鱼风险任务成功之间的非单调关系。结果不支持最佳冲动水平的假设，至少在非临床人群中和冲动的实验室操作化。未来的研究应该在具有更大可变性的样本中检查这个问题，并使用更多的冲动性操作化。