Biologically Based Trait Theory

Eysenck

Made this theory

Temperament

Biologically based tendency to behave in particular ways from very early in life.

Heritability

Extent to which a characteristic is influenced by genetics.

EEG

Brain imaging technique: Shows when brain activity occurs.

fMRI

Brain imaging technique: Shows where activity occurs.

Psychometric evidence

Criteria for Identifying Factors: Factor must be reliable and replicable.

Heritability

Criteria for Identifying Factors: Must fit as an established genetic model. Eliminates learned characteristics.

Makes sense from a theoretical view

Criteria for Identifying Factors: Uses deductive method of investigation.

Possesses Social Relevance

Criteria for Identifying Factors: Must be demonstrated that mathematically derived factors have a relationship with socially relevant variables.

Specific acts or conditions

Hierarchy of Behavior Organization: 4th. Individual behaviors or thoughts that may or may not be characteristic of a person.

Habitual acts or conditions

Hierarchy of Behavior Organization: 3rd. Responses that recur under similar conditions. Must be reasonably reliable and consistent.

Trait

Hierarchy of Behavior Organization: 2nd. Important, semi-permanent personality dispositions. Found through factor analysis. Defined in terms of significant intercorrelations between different habitual behaviors.

Types or Superfactors

Hierarchy of Behavior Organization: 1st. Made up of several interrelated traits.

Introversion

Dimensions of Personality: Other end of Extraversion.

Stability

Dimensions of Personality: Other end of Neuroticism.

Superego Function

Dimensions of Personality: Other end of Psychoticism.

Extraversion

Dimensions of Personality: Sociability and impulsiveness. Jocularity, liveliness, quick-wittedness, optimism.

Cortical Arousal Level

Primary cause of differences between extraverts and introverts.

Neuroticism

Dimensions of Personality: Tendency to overreact emotionally and have difficulty returning to a normal state after emotional arousal.

Highly reactive limbic system

Reason for emotional reactivity in neuroticism.

Diathesis-stress model

Suggests that some people are vulnerable to illness because they have either a genetic or an acquired weakness that predisposes them to an illness.

Psychoticism

Dimensions of Personality: Egocentric, cold, nonconforming, impulsive, hostile, aggressive, suspicious, psychopathic, and antisocial.

Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI)

Measuring Personality: Assessed only N and E.

Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI)

Measuring Personality: Contains a lie scale. Measures P, E, N.

Antecedents

Genetic and biological components of personality.

Consequences

Experimental variables (conditioning, sensitivity, memories) as components of personality.