Impulsivity, sensation seeking and reproductive behaviour: a life history perspective

Lee Copping; Anne C. Campbell; Steven Muncer

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2013.01.003

Impulsivity, sensation seeking and reproductive behaviour: a life history perspective

Lee Copping, Anne C. Campbell, Steven Muncer

SSSHL Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Impulsivity has often been invoked as a proximate driver of different life-history strategies. However, conceptualisations of “impulsivity” are inconsistent and ambiguities exist regarding which facets of impulsivity are actually involved in the canalisation of reproductive strategies. Two variables commonly used to represent impulsivity were examined in relation to reproductive behaviour. Results demonstrated that sensation seeking was significantly related to strategy-based behaviour, but impulsivity (defined as a failure to deliberate) was only weakly correlated. The effect of impulsivity disappeared when sensation seeking was controlled. Sex differences emerged for sensation seeking but not impulsivity. We conclude that “impulsivity” is not a unitary trait and that clearer distinctions should be made between facets of this construct.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	908-912
Number of pages	5
Journal	Personality and Individual Differences
Volume	54
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.01.003
Publication status	Published - 2013

Access to Document

10.1016/j.paid.2013.01.003

Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Impulsivity, sensation seeking and reproductive behaviour: a life history perspective'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this

@article{07f936ebf0834e8b9ee5d77a5b08a136,

title = "Impulsivity, sensation seeking and reproductive behaviour: a life history perspective",

abstract = "Impulsivity has often been invoked as a proximate driver of different life-history strategies. However, conceptualisations of “impulsivity” are inconsistent and ambiguities exist regarding which facets of impulsivity are actually involved in the canalisation of reproductive strategies. Two variables commonly used to represent impulsivity were examined in relation to reproductive behaviour. Results demonstrated that sensation seeking was significantly related to strategy-based behaviour, but impulsivity (defined as a failure to deliberate) was only weakly correlated. The effect of impulsivity disappeared when sensation seeking was controlled. Sex differences emerged for sensation seeking but not impulsivity. We conclude that “impulsivity” is not a unitary trait and that clearer distinctions should be made between facets of this construct.",

author = "Lee Copping and Campbell, {Anne C.} and Steven Muncer",

year = "2013",

doi = "10.1016/j.paid.2013.01.003",

language = "English",

volume = "54",

pages = "908--912",

journal = "Personality and Individual Differences",

issn = "0191-8869",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "8",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Impulsivity, sensation seeking and reproductive behaviour

T2 - a life history perspective

AU - Copping, Lee

AU - Campbell, Anne C.

AU - Muncer, Steven

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Impulsivity has often been invoked as a proximate driver of different life-history strategies. However, conceptualisations of “impulsivity” are inconsistent and ambiguities exist regarding which facets of impulsivity are actually involved in the canalisation of reproductive strategies. Two variables commonly used to represent impulsivity were examined in relation to reproductive behaviour. Results demonstrated that sensation seeking was significantly related to strategy-based behaviour, but impulsivity (defined as a failure to deliberate) was only weakly correlated. The effect of impulsivity disappeared when sensation seeking was controlled. Sex differences emerged for sensation seeking but not impulsivity. We conclude that “impulsivity” is not a unitary trait and that clearer distinctions should be made between facets of this construct.

AB - Impulsivity has often been invoked as a proximate driver of different life-history strategies. However, conceptualisations of “impulsivity” are inconsistent and ambiguities exist regarding which facets of impulsivity are actually involved in the canalisation of reproductive strategies. Two variables commonly used to represent impulsivity were examined in relation to reproductive behaviour. Results demonstrated that sensation seeking was significantly related to strategy-based behaviour, but impulsivity (defined as a failure to deliberate) was only weakly correlated. The effect of impulsivity disappeared when sensation seeking was controlled. Sex differences emerged for sensation seeking but not impulsivity. We conclude that “impulsivity” is not a unitary trait and that clearer distinctions should be made between facets of this construct.

U2 - 10.1016/j.paid.2013.01.003

DO - 10.1016/j.paid.2013.01.003

M3 - Article

VL - 54

SP - 908

EP - 912

JO - Personality and Individual Differences

JF - Personality and Individual Differences

SN - 0191-8869

IS - 8

ER -