The correlation of EPQ psychoticism with two behavioural measures of impulsivity

The Psychoticism (P) scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) was correlated with performance on two behavioural measures of impulsivity: total number of Errors in a choice reaction-time (RT) task, and number of Taboo Responses in an open-ended creativity test. Experiment 1 employed 20 Ss in an auditory RT situation and using an untimed creativity test. P correlated strongly and positively with a logged Taboo Responses measure but not with a logged Errors score. The correlation of P with Errors reached statistical significance when the biserial correlation of P with Errors/No Errors was calculated. Experiment 2 employed 35 Ss in a visual choice RT situation and using a timed creativity test. Questionnaire scales of Venturesomeness, Impulsiveness and Empathy were also used. Both behavioural indices were significantly correlated with P, but not with Venturesomeness or Impulsiveness. The results constitute further support for the view that the P scale of the EPQ contains a strong impulsivity component.