Smith, Gregory T.Cyders, Melissa A.2017-11-082017-11-082016-06-01Smith, G. T., & Cyders, M. A. (2016). Integrating Affect and Impulsivity: The Role of Positive and Negative Urgency in Substance Use Risk. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 163(Suppl 1), S3–S12. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.08.038https://hdl.handle.net/1805/14466BACKGROUND: The personality traits of positive and negative urgency refer to the tendencies to act rashly when experiencing unusually positive or negative emotions, respectively. METHODS: The authors review recent empirical work testing urgency theory (Cyders and Smith, 2008a) and consider advances in theory related to these traits. RESULTS: Empirical findings indicate that (a) the urgency traits are particularly important predictors of the onset of, and increases in, substance use in both children and young adults; (b) they appear to operate in part by biasing psychosocial learning; (c) pubertal onset is associated with increases in negative urgency, which in turn predict increases in adolescent drinking behavior; (d) variation in negative urgency trait levels are associated with variations in the functioning of an identified brain system; and (e) variations in the serotonin transporter gene, known to influence the relevant brain system, relate to variations in the urgency traits. CONCLUSION: A recent model (Carver et al., 2008) proposes the urgency traits to be markers of a tendency to respond reflexively to emotion, whether through impulsive action or ill-advised inaction (the latter leading to depressive symptoms); this model has received empirical support. The authors discuss new directions for research on the urgency traits.en-USPublisher PolicyNegative urgencyPersonalityPositive urgencyRiskArticle