Abstract
Hypotheses about the mutual relationship between extraversion, introversion, neuroticism and the effects of autogenic training (AT) were empirically investigated on a sample of 65 subjects following a detailed discussion of Eysenck’s personality theory and the literature about autogenic training and personality available up to now. The prognosis of the effects of AT is mainly determined by extraversion. On the one hand, high scores on extraversion unfavourably affect the progress of AT, whereas low scores on extraversion (or high scores on introversion) favourably influence the effects of AT on the other hand. At the end of AT high scores in neuroticism decrease. As a result of AT both subjects with high or low scores in neuroticism showed considerable changes in the scales of EWL-K. The effects of AT were more distinct in subjects with high scores in neuroticism than in subjects with low scores. However, the latter showed more favourable scores at the beginning and more distinct effects during the process of AT. The expected decrease in extraversion caused by AT with extravert subjects and increase with introvert subjects were confirmed by the investigation. Concerning the state of mood extravert and introvert subjects show differences during AT. At the beginning of AT the scores in mood were comparable both in introvert and extravert subjects. At the end of AT introvert subjects show no different scores in positive mood, but due to more positive effects of AT lower scores in negative mood than extravert subjects. The negative mood did not change as much in extravert subjects. Considering the course of mood during AT in dependence of both personality dimensions, extraversion and neuroticism, introvert and neuroticistic subjects benefit more from AT than extravert and emotionally stable subjects. Subjects with low scores in extraversion and high scores in neuroticism show, due to AT, more distinct improvement in mood.