Why Some Hate to Dilly-Dally and Others Do Not: The Arousal-Invoking Capacity of Decision-Making for Low- and High-Scoring Need for Closure Individuals

The present research investigates the arousal-inducing capacity of decision-making with individuals differing in their chronic levels of need for closure (NFC). Study 1 (N = 40) revealed increased systolic blood pressure and heart rate as well as a rise in self-reported feelings of distress among high-scoring NFC individuals. Study 2 (N = 29) indicated that as long as no conclusive solution is obtained, a progressive increase of arousal measured by galvanic skin response emerged among high-scoring NFC individuals, whereas no such effects were found for low NFC individuals. In the discussion, we argue that decision-making acts as a stressor for high NFC individuals and we elaborate on the motivational nature of NFC.