Biological approach

Eysenck’s model of personality

1. Personality determined by biological and environmental factors

2. Biological factors involve heritability and physiological substrates

3. Use of criterion analysis → small # of items to understand particular differences

4. Broke down into 3 traits: extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism

Gray’s Biopsychosocial Theory

Looking into the Differences across a trait and understanding how is reflected in behavioural systems

• BAS

• BIS

• ForF

Behavioural Activation System

responding to positive cues in one’s environment

→ pursuing motivation and reward

→ extraversion and Conditioning learning

Behavioural Inhibition System

responding to negative cues in one’s environment

→ punishment & avoiding motivation

→ neuroticism (fear & anxiety)

Fight or Flight system

nervous system responding to different kinds of threats

Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory

• Punishment sensitivity → neuroticism

• Reward sensitivity → extraversion

Punishment sensitivity

Produces fear and anxiety when reacting to aversive stimuli

• BIS = defensive approach “be careful”

• FFS = defensive avoidance “get away”

Reward sensitivity

Produces hope when reacting to rewarding stimuli

• BAS = reward approach “go for it”

How do we study the biological approach?

With genetics, neuroscience, and physiology

Inherited traits VS. Heritability

Genes explain average levels of a trait in humans VS. The variation of that trait among individuals

→ eg. Humans can feel stress VS. Some ppl are more anxious than others

Use of genetic to study personality - Twin’s argument

Both type of twins, MZ and DZ, should have the same environment and only DZ twins different in genetics. Why MZ dont have same personality then?

→ problems with the argument is that there are circumstances external to the family that can differ between each individual, eg. Friends

Use of Neuroscience to understand personality

• FMRI

• EEG

• Neurotransmitters

Use of FMRI to understand personality

Looking at different regions and systems of the brain and how they operate when exposed to certain stimuli

→ eg.

Use of EEG to study personality

Trying to look at brain waves when exposed to certain stimuli, but is challenging to identify the relationship of what we are looking at

Neurotransmitters to study personality

Chemicals that carry signals across neurons that may activate/reduce neurological systems

• dopamine → reward and value

• Serotonin → regulation and inhibition of negative/impulsive behaviour

• Pinephrine → stress and ForF to minimize conflict

Use of Physiology to study personality

• autonomic nervous system → activation can impact cognition and physical behaviour

• Hormones

  • Testosterone = aggression and competition

  • Cortisol = stress and ForF

  • Oxytocin = bonding, love, less anxiety

Psychophysiological Study of Extroversion

Participants high in the trait showed lower heart rate activity during the speech and a greater recovery afterwards → adaptation rather than sensitization

Evolutionary theories of personality

Evolution of psychological traits through natural selection → more advantageous traits become more common in population

• average levels of diff traits in diff cultures (environments)

• Eg. Not everyone extreme extroverted but we need some ppl higher in this trait to function properly in balance

Cybernetic Theory of Personality - DeYoung

Personality traits are the products of evolved cybernetic mechanisms, this means how people set goals, monitor their progress, and adjust their behaviour to reach those goals

Higher factors of Cybernetic Theory

• stability → staying consistent and functioning well

• Plasticity → adapting and exploring

Personality traits as universal mechanisms

Personality traits as built-in systems that all humans have

• patterns of emotion and motivation rather than fixed traits

• Influenced by stimuli around us

→ eg. As an extroverted you’re more likely to be social but not all the time (be quiet at a job interview)

Characteristic Adaptations

How one’s environment and specific circumstances shape your personality system

→ goals, habits, relationships, values, etc.

→ eg. Extraversion as the trait that drives you towards social interaction, but the characteristic adaption could be going out to parties with your bff every weekend in your first year of university

Extraversion - Cybernetic goal

Behavioural exploration and engagement with specific rewards → motivation and action

• eg. Going out, pursuing goals

Neuroticism - Cybernetic goal

Defensive responses to uncertainty, threat, and punishment → anxiety

• eg. Worrying and avoiding danger

Openness - Cybernetic goal

Cognitive exploration and engagement with information → ideas, curiosity and learning

• eg. Thinking deeply and exploring new concepts

Conscientiousness - cybernetic goal

Protection of non-immediate or abstract goals and strategies from disruption → self-control and long-term goals

• eg. Studying instead of procrastinating

Agreeableness - cybernetic goal

Altruism and cooperation, coordination of goals with others → relationships

• Eg. Helping others, avoiding conflict

DeYoung’s argument about dopamine - podcast

Misconception → dopamine as equivalent of pleasure when is more of a system that regulates our drive to explore potential rewards

Dopamine and extraversion - DeYoung podcast

Value system responds to specific rewards

• being more energetic, more assertive, and more socially engaged

Dopamine and openness - DeYoung podcast

Responds to importance and meaning

• drives curiosity, encourages engagement with complexity

Psychopathology and Cybernetic theory - DeYoung

Can be understood as a dysfunction of the cybernetic system → mental disorders arising from dysregulated feedback systems, chaotic goal pursuits, over/under error detection, or miscalibrated dopamine systems