Keeping My Focus: A Neuroscientist

psych-facts:

Are High Neurotic People More Absorbed Into the Films they Watch than Low Neurotics?

In 2011, Weibel, Wissmath, and Stricker study whether people who are more neurotic are more absorbed into the films they watch. Using a 3 by 2 factorial design, 64 student participants complete the Neo Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI) that assesses neurotic level. Next, the participants are put into a Low or High Neurotic Groups based on NEO-FFI scores. Participants are also then asked to view three clips randomly ordered that are either funny, sad, or happy. The study then surveys the participant’s level of absorption into the clips (using Kim and Biocca’s (1997) Prsence Scale) and level of enjoyment (using a 5-point Likert Scale “Did you enjoy the film,” rate from 1-5, 5 for very much). The study finds that high neurotics rate level of absorption higher than low neurotics and that this was true regardless of whether the clips were funny, sad or happy. They also found that high neurotics rate level of enjoyment higher for the happy and funny clips and lower for the sad clip than the low neurotics. The researchers propose that high neurotics have a more reactive sympathetic nervous system and thus are more attentive to the clips and affected by emotions.