Stolarski, M. , Ledzińska, M. & Zdral, B.
University of Warsaw, Faculty of Psychology
The role of temperamental variables in the dynamics and effectiveness of attention processes has rarely been investigated so far and, within the borderline area between personality and intelligence, remains an unresolved issue. The paper reports a series of studies illustrating the role of temperamental traits distinguished in the Regulative Theory of Temperament (Strelau, 2008). In Study 1 we investigated the temperamental correlates of the intensity of intrusive thoughts. The aim of Study 2 was to illustrate the temperamental basis of the strength of experience of data overload (also labeled infostress), which earlier proved to be related to selective attention. Finally, in study 3 we experimentally investigated the role of temperament in selective and divided attention, measured with computer attention task DIVA (Nęcka, 1994). The obtained data provide evidence for the role of temperamental traits, particularly Emotional Reactivity and Perseveration, in attention processes and illustrate two of the possible mechanisms of this relationship: intrusive thoughts and infostress experience.