PSY259 - chapter 5 - Summary of key concepts PDF

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PSY259 Chapter 5: Biological Approach Hans Eysenck’s Theory of Personality

Four levels working: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Supertrait Trait Habitual Response Specific Response

from specific acts which define habitual acts which describe narrow traits. Narrow traits come together to describe on one of three super traits: Psychoticism, Extraversion, Neuroticism Eysenck’s factor analytic research yielded evidence for two basic dimensions that could subsume all other traits: extraversion-introversion and neuroticism. Because the dimensions are independent of one another, people who score on the extraversion end of the first dimension can either score high or low on the second dimension.

Someone who scores high on extraversion and low on neuroticism possesses traits different from a person who score high on both extraversion and neuroticism. Extraversion-Introversion Dimension Prototypic extravert: Outgoing, impulsive and uninhibited, and have many social contacts and frequently taking part in group activities Typical extravert: Sociable, like parties, has many friends, needs to have people to talk to, and does not like reading or studying by himself. Introvert: Quiet, retiring sort of person, introspective, fond of books rather than people; reserved and distant except to intimate friends. Neuroticism Dimension 

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High score on neuroticism dimension indicate a tendency to respond emotionally o Refers to people high in neuroticism as unstable or highly emotional o Often have strong emotional reactions to minor frustrations and take longer to recover from these. o More easily upset, angered, and depressed than most of us. Falling on the other end of the neuroticism (Low) are o Less likely to fly off the handle and less prone to large swings in emotion

Psychoticism Dimension  

Third supertrait added People who score high on this dimension are described as: o Egocentric, aggressive, impersonal, cold, lacking in empathy, impulsive, lacking in concern for others and generally unconcerned about the rights and welfare of other people o Good candidates for some type of judicial correction or psychotherapy

Reinforcement sensitivity theory (Gray)

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Other researchers tie differences in extraversion and neuroticism to biologically based differences in sensitivity to reinforcement, Each human brain has a behavioural approach system (BAS) and a behavioural inhibition system (BIS). Sees connection between the BAS and extraversion and a connection between the BIS and Neuroticism People with a highly active BIS are similar to those scoring high in extraversion and those with a highly active BIS are similar to people scoring high in neuroticism Concepts are related but not exactly the same

Behavioural APPROACH system 

People with a highly active BAS are intensely motivated to seek out and achieve pleasurable goals o Compared to individuals low on this dimension, they get more pleasure out of rewards and more enjoyment out of simply anticipating that rewards are coming o Experience more anger and frustration when they fall short of reaching anticipated sources of pleasure

Behavioural INHIBITION system 

People with a highly active BIS tend to be apprehensive than others o Approach new situations warily, are on the constant lookout for signs of danger and are quick to retreat from a situation that they sense might lead to problems o More likely to experience anxiety than people low on this dimension.

Use of twin studies and adoption studies to examine nature/nurture issues  

Figuring out the extent that each factor plays in determining personality Twin studies provide data on how to separate these factors; Genetic factors can be distinguished when monozygotic (identical) twins who share identical genes and environment are contrasted with dizygotic (fraternal) twins who share the same environment but different genes Examples: McCrae and colleagues’s (2001) o

Demonstrate that personality traits are influenced by genetics

Borkenau, Riemann, Angleitner, and Spinath’s (2001) o

Suggest that genetics account for approximately 40% of our personalities.

Krueger, South, Johnson, and Iacono (2008) o

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Describes how new methods in statistical modelling now allows for an estimation of both genetic and environmental factors, demonstrating the stability in the genetic contribution to personality.

Research with adopted children has also provided much insight on this issue. Scarr and colleagues (1981) o

Found that in families with one adopted and one birth child, the birth child shares more similarities with the parents, suggesting the importance of genetics.

Loehlin, Willerman, and Horn (1982; 1987) o

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The personality of adopted children resembled their biological parents more, even though they never knew their parents.

Results from both twin and adoption studies thus suggest that personality is indeed, at least in part, inherited....