lectures 7-8 (personality)

Eysenck’s theory

Extraverts have less responsive nervous systems and seek stimulation

Extraverts and stimulation

Extraverts seek stimulation to reach optimum arousal

Introverts and stimulation

Introverts have more responsive nervous systems and avoid stimulation

Lemon juice test

Used to study differences in nervous system responsiveness

Frontal lobe

Controls self-control and decision-making

Agreeableness and conscientiousness

Higher levels are linked to more frontal-lobe activity

Neuroticism and amygdala

High neuroticism is linked to greater right-amygdala activity

Right amygdala

Processes emotions and detects discrepancies or things seeming wrong

Morningness versus eveningness

Refers to when someone feels best during the day

Evening people

Tend toward higher extraversion

Eveningness and age

Eveningness is higher among teens and young adults

Evolutionary theory

Current behaviors may reflect behaviors aiding past survival

Water and evolutionary theory

Attraction to water may reflect its historical survival benefits

Human social behavior

Groups historically provided safety and survival advantages

Wary guppies

High-neuroticism guppies are cautious around predators

Personality variation

Different personalities help species adapt to environments

Mate preferences

Men emphasize appearance while women emphasize resources more

Mate preference similarities

Both men and women rank kindness highly

Evolutionary desires

Modern urges may reflect historically adaptive behaviors

Obesity epidemic explanation

Ancient preferences for salt and fat persist amid abundance

Extramarital affairs

Evolutionary theory suggests mating urges historically aided reproduction

Evolutionary explanations

Explain urges but do not necessarily explain behavior

Evolutionary psychology critique

We know little about hunter-gatherer environments

Cultural versus evolutionary explanations

Similar patterns across cultures may support evolutionary explanations

Evolutionary unfalsifiability

Explanations can sometimes be created regardless of results

Stripper study

Tips increased during women’s high-fertility days

Fertility and attraction

Fertility may influence voice

Testosterone

Hormone associated with aggression and competitive behavior

Testosterone and violent criminals

Violent criminals tend to have higher testosterone

Testosterone causation

Behavior and experiences can influence testosterone levels

Testosterone and sports

Testosterone rises after a favored team wins

Testosterone and politics

Testosterone can rise after a favored candidate wins

Testosterone and competition

Anticipated competition can increase testosterone

Testosterone and relationships

Testosterone tends to be higher among single people

Testosterone and divorce

Men’s testosterone may rise before divorce and fall after remarriage

Testosterone and affairs

Higher testosterone is associated with greater interest in affairs

2D:4D ratio

Finger-length ratio associated with prenatal testosterone exposure

Low 2D:4D ratio

Associated with risk-taking and lower agreeableness

Individualistic cultures

Emphasize the self over social rules and others

Collectivistic cultures

Emphasize social rules and others over individual self

Self-esteem

Overall evaluation of one’s own worth

High self-esteem benefits

High self-esteem can feel good and encourage action

Self-esteem and success

Self-esteem does not necessarily cause academic or work success

Self-esteem and academic performance

Asian-Americans report lower self-esteem despite strong academic performance

Self-esteem boosting

Excessive self-esteem messages can sometimes reduce later performance

Sociometer theory

Self-esteem reflects perceived quality of social relationships

Self-serving bias

People credit themselves for success and deny failure responsibility

Self-compassion

Treating yourself kindly while recognizing mistakes are universal

Mindfulness

Letting go of negative emotions without overreacting

Narcissism

Inflated self-importance combined with entitlement and low empathy

Grandiose narcissism

Overt narcissism involving confidence

Narcissistic Personality Inventory

Measure commonly used for grandiose narcissism

Grandiose narcissism and extraversion

Grandiose narcissism is associated with higher extraversion

Vulnerable narcissism

Covert narcissism involving insecurity and emotional sensitivity

Vulnerable narcissism and personality

Associated with lower extraversion and higher neuroticism

Narcissism advantages

Narcissism can improve public performance and attention-seeking situations

Narcissism disadvantages

Narcissism can harm long-term performance and relationships

Narcissism and performance

Narcissists may perform better when others are watching

Narcissism and business

High narcissism can produce volatile performance and poor downturn results

Narcissism and college

High narcissism is associated with lower grades and dropout

Narcissism and relationships

Narcissism often produces short-term popularity but long-term relationship problems

Narcissist behaviors

Bragging

Self-efficacy

Belief that you can successfully perform a specific action

Self-efficacy versus self-esteem

Encourage abilities and actions rather than general greatness

Effective praise

Give specific encouragement rather than overly general praise

Self-control

Ability to regulate impulses and behavior toward goals

Self-control and success

Self-control supports success at work and relationships

Conscientiousness

Includes perseverance

Self-control training

Practicing self-control can improve control in other areas

Self-control fatigue

Self-control can become temporarily depleted through excessive use

Self-control strengthening

Repeated practice can strengthen self-control over time

Executive function

Mental processes supporting planning

Willpower

Ability to resist impulses and maintain goal-directed behavior

Self-regulation

Ability to manage thoughts