Reinforcement sensitivity theory as a predictor of senior-executive performance

•We test links between reinforcement sensitivity theory and senior-executive job performance.•Trait BAS alone did not predict performance.•Trait BIS had a marginally significant relationship with performance (p = 0.07).•The interaction of traits BIS and BAS predicted performance (p = 0.01).•The optimal scenario for performance is high trait BAS and low trait BIS, combined.

This paper develops and tests links between the reinforcement sensitivity theory of personality and senior-executive job performance, hypothesising that the theory’s personality traits, known as ‘BIS’ and ‘BAS’, will interact to predict performance. 167 chief and second-tier executives completed Carver and White’s (1994)BIS/BAS Scales, and had their overall performance rated by a superior or peer using four items. Structural equation modeling showed that while BAS has no main effect and BIS has a marginally significant effect on performance (p = 0.07), BIS and BAS interact to predict performance (p = 0.01), the optimal scenario being a combination of high BAS and low BIS. These results show the importance of testing traits’ interactions in applied personality research.