UniVenture is Personality Targeted
Personality traits play an important role in determining the choices people make and the way in which they respond to stress. The UniVenture study is unique in that it targets specific personality traits which have the potential to influence risk-taking behaviours and mental health.
Negative thinking or NT is an internalizing trait, which means it has a greater impact on our internal thoughts and feelings than our external actions. Characteristics of NT include a biased outlook on the future that makes you believe that there will not only be lots of negative events but few positive events. Someone high in NT may feel like a failure or be unenthusiastic about their future.
Anxiety sensitivity or AS is also an internalizing trait. Characteristics of AS include fear of bodily sensations associated with anxiety, such as a change in heartbeat or feeling faint. Someone high in AS may believe these sensations will have catastrophic somatic, psychological, or social consequences.
Impulsivity or IMP is an externalizing trait, which means it has a greater impact on your actions than on your internal thoughts and feelings. Characteristics of IMP include failing to think before acting and failing to consider possible consequences. Someone high in IMP might get into situations they later regret being involved in or speak without thinking things through.
Sensation seeking or SS is also an externalizing trait. Characteristics of SS include a drive to seek out new and intense experiences, regardless of perceived risk. Someone high in SS might think of themselves as an ‘adrenaline junkie’ and engage in illegal activities just for the experience.
Articles about personality:
Feist, G. J. (1998). A Meta-Analysis of Personality in Scientific and Artistic Creativity. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2(4), 290–309. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr0204_5
Furnham, A. & Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2004). Personality and intelligence as predictors of statistics examination grades. Personality and Individual Differences, 37, 943-955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2003.10.016
Saklofske, D. H., Austin, E. J., Rohr, B. A., & Andrews, J. J. W. (2007). Personality, Emotional Intelligence and Exercise. Journal of Health Psychology, 12(6), 937–948. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105307082458
Volk, A. A., Brazil, K. J., Franklin-Luther, P., Dane, A. V., & Vaillancourt, T. (2021). The influence of demographics and personality on COVID-19 coping in young adults. Personality and individual differences, 168, 110398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110398
Otis, E., Yakovenko, I., Sherry, S., Smith, M., Goldstein, A., Ellery, M., ... & Stewart, S. H. (2021). Applicability of the four-factor personality vulnerability model for substance misuse in understanding gambling behaviour and gambling problems. Personality and Individual Differences, 169, 110400.
Conrod, P. J. (2016). Personality-targeted interventions for substance use and misuse. Current addiction reports, 3(4), 426-436.