Hans Eysenck’s Theory of Personality

Flashcards on Hans Eysenck’s Theory of Personality, dimensions, arguments, and biological factors.

What method did Eysenck use to identify personality traits?

Eysenck employed factor analysis, a statistical technique, to identify super traits by analyzing correlations between various personality traits.

What are Eysenck’s three supertraits?

Eysenck proposed three overarching personality dimensions:

extraversion,

neuroticism (emotional instability), and

psychoticism (tendency toward nonconformity or social deviance).

What is a specific response in Eysenck’s model?

In Eysenck's hierarchical model, a specific response is an individual's observable behavior in a particular situation, such as socializing with friends one afternoon.

What is a habitual response?

A habitual response is a pattern of repeated behaviors or actions over time, like someone who consistently socializes on a daily basis.

What personality trait encompasses sociability, impulsiveness, liveliness, and excitability?

Extraversion is the personality trait characterized by sociability, impulsiveness, liveliness, and excitability.

How does Eysenck describe an extravert?

Eysenck describes an extravert as someone who is outgoing, impulsive, enjoys being in groups, and typically dislikes studying alone due to their need for social interaction and stimulation.

How does Eysenck describe an introvert?

Eysenck describes an introvert as an individual who is reserved, introspective, and prefers solitary activities like reading over socializing with people, often seeking quiet and calm environments.

What does high neuroticism indicate?

High neuroticism indicates a tendency towards emotional reactivity, characterized by frequent experiences of anger, anxiety, depression, and overall emotional instability.

What traits are linked to high psychoticism?

High psychoticism is associated with traits such as aggression, lack of empathy, coldness, impulsivity, and a general disregard for social norms and conventions.

What percent of personality variation did Eysenck attribute to biology?

Eysenck estimated that approximately 66% (or ⅔) of the variation in personality traits could be attributed to biological or genetic factors.

What physiological difference exists between introverts and extraverts?

Introverts typically have a higher baseline cortical arousal level compared to extraverts, making them more sensitive to external stimuli.

Why do extraverts seek stimulation?

Extraverts seek stimulation from external sources to increase their naturally low cortical arousal levels, helping them feel more alert and engaged.

How do introverts react to stimulation?

Introverts are more sensitive to stimulation and become more quickly aroused because they have a higher baseline cortical arousal level.

Which stimulants affect introverts more strongly than extraverts?

Introverts tend to be more strongly affected by stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine due to their higher level of baseline cortical arousal.

What is the BAS focused on?

The Behavioral Approach System (BAS) is focused on seeking out and achieving pleasurable goals, driving individuals to pursue potential rewards and positive experiences.

What behaviors are associated with an active BAS?

Behaviors associated with an active BAS include reward-seeking, experiencing increased pleasure from anticipating rewards, and a general tendency to approach potentially rewarding situations.

What is the BIS focused on?

The Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) is focused on avoiding danger and unpleasant experiences, making individuals more sensitive to potential threats and punishments.

What are people with an active BIS more likely to experience?

People with a highly active BIS are more likely to experience anxiety, worry, and apprehension in response to potential threats or uncertain situations.

Which traits are linked to high BAS activity?

High BAS activity is linked to traits such as extraversion and impulsivity, reflecting a tendency to actively seek out new experiences and rewards.

Which traits are linked to high BIS activity?

High BIS activity is linked to traits such as neuroticism and apprehension, indicating a tendency to be more vigilant and avoidant of potential threats.

What is temperament?

Temperament refers to inborn, genetically influenced general behavioral and emotional patterns that form the basis of personality.

What does emotionality refer to in children?

In the context of children, emotionality refers to the intensity of their emotional reactions, such as how strongly they express fear, anger, or joy.

What does activity refer to in children?

In children, activity refers to their general energy level, encompassing physical movement, and fidgeting, indicating how active or sedentary they tend to be.

What does sociability refer to?

Sociability refers to the general tendency to affiliate with others, seek social interactions, and enjoy the company of other people.

What characterizes inhibited children?

Inhibited children are characterized as being shy, cautious, and fearful of novelty, often clinging to their parents and taking a while to adjust to new people or situations.

What characterizes uninhibited children?

Uninhibited children are outgoing, eager to explore new situations, and tend to jump right into new activities without hesitation or fear.

What tool measures electrical brain activity?

An EEG (electroencephalograph) is a tool used to measure electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp.

What does EEG detect in terms of personality?

EEG (electroencephalograph) can detect brainwave patterns, such as alpha waves, that correlate with certain personality traits and emotional states.

What is cerebral asymmetry?

Cerebral asymmetry refers to the uneven distribution of brain activity between the left and right hemispheres, which is associated with different emotional and behavioral tendencies.

Left hemisphere activation is associated with what?

Activation in the left hemisphere is associated with positive moods, approach behavior, and cognitive functions related to language and analytical thinking.

Right hemisphere activation is associated with what?

Activation in the right hemisphere is associated with negative moods, withdrawal behavior, and processing emotions, especially negative ones.

What is the twin study method used for?

The twin study method is used to separate and estimate the relative contributions of genetic and environmental influences on personality traits and behaviors by comparing similarities between twins.

What are monozygotic twins?

Monozygotic twins, also known as identical twins, develop from a single fertilized egg that splits, resulting in twins with virtually identical genes.

What are dizygotic twins?

Dizygotic twins, also known as fraternal twins, develop from separate eggs fertilized by different sperm, making them genetically similar to any other siblings.

What is heritability?

Heritability is the proportion of variance in a trait within a population that can be attributed to genetic factors, estimating how much of the differences in a trait are due to genetic variation.

Heritability means how much of the differences between people are caused by genes.

So if something has high heritability, it means genes play a big role.
If it has low heritability, it means the environment plays a bigger role.

Can heritability determine the cause of individual traits?

No, heritability estimates explain the variance across populations and do not determine the cause of individual traits, as it relates to population-level differences rather than individual genetic predispositions.

What is niche picking?

Niche picking is the behavior of individuals selecting environments and activities that are well-suited to their genetic tendencies, reinforcing the expression of certain traits.

ex- A kid who’s naturally athletic might choose to play sports.

What is epigenetics?

Epigenetics is the study of how your environment and behavior can cause changes that affect the way your genes work.

Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change your DNA sequence, but they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence

ex:A child has stress-related genes. If they grow up in a harmful environment, those genes may turn "on" more, making them more anxious — even though their DNA didn’t change.

Can identical twins develop differently?

Yes, identical twins can develop differently due to different environmental exposures and epigenetic changes that alter gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence.

Do genes directly cause behavior?

No, genes do not directly cause behavior; instead, they influence the potential for certain behaviors by affecting biological processes and predispositions.

What role does dopamine play in personality?

Dopamine plays a crucial role in personality by influencing reward-seeking behavior, motivation, and traits associated with extraversion, such as sociability and activity level.

What disorders are linked to dopamine imbalance?

Disorders linked to dopamine imbalance include Parkinson’s disease, which is associated with low dopamine levels, and schizophrenia, which is associated with high dopamine activity.

What does serotonin regulate?

Serotonin regulates behavioral impulses, mood stability, and overall emotional well-being by modulating neural activity in brain regions involved in emotional processing.

What drug affects serotonin levels?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac affect serotonin levels by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain, increasing its availability and improving mood.

What hormones are part of the stress response?

Epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) are key hormones involved in the stress response, preparing the body for fight or flight by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and energy levels.

What hormone is associated with bonding and sociability?

Oxytocin is a hormone associated with bonding, sociability, and attachment, promoting feelings of trust, empathy, and closeness in social relationships.

What is the female “tend and befriend” response?

The female "tend and befriend" response is a social approach to stress characterized by nurturing behaviors and seeking social support, facilitated by the release of oxytocin.

What is the role of testosterone?

Testosterone is linked to aggression, dominance, and competitiveness, also influences sexual behavior, muscle mass, and bone density.

What is the function of cortisol?

Cortisol is released in response to stress, helps regulate metabolism and immune function. Chronically high levels are found in people experiencing severe stress, depression, and anxiety.

What is BOLD imaging used for?

Blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) imaging is used in fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) to measure brain activity by detecting changes in blood oxygen levels, allowing researchers to see which brain areas are active during different tasks or states.

its the signal fmri uses to detect brain acitivty!!

CT scans detect what?

examine what?

detect what parts are working

Examine small structures

MEG detects what

Detects magnetic indications of brain activity 

Also called magnetoencephalography 

what does a PET scan do

• positron emission tomography 

  • Map brain activity based on blood flow

Uses a radioactive substance (tracer) to show brain activity.

detects diseases

what does an fMRI do

• functional magnetic resistance imaging 

  • Map brain activity based on magnetic impulses generated by oxygen in the blood

Seeing which parts of the brain are active during tasks