Affect and personality correlates of the Iowa Gambling Task

The present study examined the relationship of personality, Behavioral Inhibition Scale/Behavioral Activation scale (BIS/BAS scale) and affect, Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) to performance on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) in a nonclinical sample (n = 87). Results showed that both negative affect and BAS were related to riskier performance on the IGT; BAS Fun Seeking was still related to IGT even after controlling for negative affect. Cluster analytic group analyses showed that individuals highest in BAS Fun Seeking performed worst on IGT, relative to individuals low on BAS scales and individuals high on only BAS Drive and Reward. Although both negative affect and Fun Seeking were related to IGT performance, there was no interaction between mood and personality. Results suggest that both state mood (particularly negative affect) and personality (particularly Fun Seeking) are independently related to risky performance on IGT. Results suggest a need to assess both affect and personality dimensions when attempting to explain poor IGT performance, particularly in clinical populations.