Psychology:
APA Citation: Carlozzi, N. S. (2010). “Personality and Reaction Time after Sleep Deprivation”. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY, 29(1), 24
Synopsis:
A series of experiments were carried out to determine the relationship between personality development, personality traits and reaction time for individuals due to sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is a condition whereby an individual is not able to get enough sleep. The condition can be either chronic or acute and can lead to a number of problems. Problems include fatigue, anger, ineptness and depression. This is mainly because lack of enough sleep affects an individual’s cognitive function. In order to investigate the effects of lack of sleep on the personality of individuals, an experiment was carried out on a group of 37 participants who were required to be up for 30 hours. The group of 37 participants lacked sleep and at the end of the experiment was provided with personality test in order to determine their personality traits because of their lack of sleep for a long period. The data collected from the participants was analyzed using a regression model as well as a correlation analysis.
The results of the regression analysis indicated that greater innovation, less anger or hostility, and depression or dejection, and less confusion, was associated with greater reaction time before sleep deprivation. In addition, correlation analysis carried out indicated that better reaction times were associated with greater innovation and lower anger or hostility prior to sleep deprivation, and less confusion following sleep deprivation (Carlozzi, 2010). This indicate that before sleep deprivation an individual showed greater novelty seeking or innovation as well as lower levels of anger and hostility. After being sleep deprived the participants showed greater hostility, anger as well as lower innovation.
Hypothesis: Sleep deprivation affects personality and reaction times of individuals.Independent variables: Sleep deprivationDependent Variable: Personality (innovation, anger or hostility, confusion, depression or dejection) and reaction time Results: The experiment shows that before sleep deprivation individuals showed lower levels of anger, hostility, dejection and depression. However, sleep deprivation may lead to reduced reaction time for individuals mainly because sleep deprived individuals indicate higher levels of anger or hostility, depression or dejection, confusion and lower levels of innovation.
The article was very informative and introduced new ideas on sleep deprivation. The results provided in the article helps link sleep deprivation and personality development as well as the effects that it has on the cognitive function (reaction time)of an individual. The results of the experiment indicated that greater innovation, less anger or hostility, and depression or dejection, and less confusion, was associated with greater reaction time before sleep deprivation. On the other hand, the regression model indicated that less innovation, more anger or hostility, and depression or dejection, and more confusion, was associated with reduced reaction time before sleep deprivation. This information is interesting and important and may help people who have chronic or acute sleep deprivation to understand how lack of sleep affects their reaction time.
The information provided in the article also indicates that due to the lack of sleep for a long period an individual may develop anger, depression, confusion and hostility. This information is shocking. The fact that the lack of sleep can cause further problems to an individual is worrying. The study clearly indicates that anyone with a sleeping disorder should seek help before the onset of other psychological issues such as depression. It is also interesting to note that factors such as anger and hostility greatly influenced the reaction time of an individual. Further research would be important for investigating other issues that may result from sleep deprivation.
Reference:
Carlozzi, N. S. (2010). “Personality and Reaction Time after Sleep Deprivation”. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY, 29(1), 24.
