Lower Intolerance of Uncertainty but Not Behavioral Inhibition Is Associated with Increased Preference for a Novel Context
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and behavioral inhibition (BI) are personality traits associated with avoidance of the unfamiliar. Both are linked to anxiety and other disorders. However, most research on personality has relied on self-report, which may not correspond to actual behavior. An alternative is to observe behavior in computer-based tasks designed to assess personality. The current study sought to develop such a task, based on the conditioned place preference paradigm, which is sensitive to IU but not BI. Participants foraged for reward in a virtual environment consisting of multiple interconnected rooms. In the training phase, the rich room was paired with a higher number of wins than losses. The poor room was the opposite. In the test phase, participants could freely search any of the rooms, including a completely new room. Although most showed a strong initial preference for the new room, those with higher self-reported IU left this room faster, foraging there significantly less than those with lower IU. This preference also depended on information provided about the new room. There was a strong positive correlation between IU and BI; however, the latter was unrelated to behavior. Thus, the task captures a unique component of IU.
Source: Psychology International
Author: Milen L. Radell
Institution: Niagara University
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,448
Funder: Niagara University
OpenAlex ID: W4413223092