The role of temperament and personality traits in assessing reaction efficiency in a homogeneous population of pilot candidates

Abstract

Pilots are a highly pre-selected and relatively homogeneous population and have relatively limited individual differences. In the present study, we examined the extent to which temperament and personality traits influence the basic dimensions of reaction efficiency in pilot candidates. We considered the results of 799 subjects, using canonical correlation analysis to determine the relationship between the two groups of variables. We employed the Formal Characteristics of Behaviour – Temperament Inventory and the Neuroticism–Extraversion–Openness Five Factor Inventory to assess temperament and personality traits. In addition, we evaluated reaction efficiency based on the Determination Test, the Cognitrone Test, and the Reaction Test, which are part of the Vienna Test System battery. The processing speed indicators, as well as the number of errors, were the main contributors to reaction efficiency. Based on the structure coefficients, we concluded that higher neuroticism is associated with lower speed and a higher number of errors, as well as lower briskness, activity, and extraversion. These traits can explain a significant proportion of the test performance results, despite the minor interpersonal variability in temperament and personality traits.