Mozart & Metal: The Impact of Auditory Stimuli on Pain Tolerance in Different Personality Types

Abstract

Mozart & Metal: The Impact of Auditory Stimuli on Pain Tolerance in Different Personality Types

Previous research suggests that introverts have a more fragile nervous system than extroverts, indicating that introversion and extraversion are biologically based (Xue-Jun, 2009). This central personality trait most likely impacts many other aspects of the individual’s personality, experience, and interaction with others. The current study was designed to determine whether or not this central trait had an impact on pain tolerance, specifically when mediated by other social factors. Participants’ pain tolerance was established based on how long they could keep their hands dipped in ice water, a common pain induction method, while listening to music (soothing/classical or stimulating/metal). Participants completed the James C. M. McCroskey Introversion Scale to determine personality type as well as a demographic questionnaire to control for music preference and other personal variables. It was hypothesized that music type would impact pain tolerance for all participants, but that there would be an interaction between music type and personality type (introvert/extrovert) on pain tolerance. Approximately 100 male and female undergraduate students will participate in the study. Data will be analyzed via Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results will be discussed in terms of biological indicators of personality factors.

Keywords: Pain tolerance, extraversion, introversion, auditory stimuli, personality, and nervous system.