1: Approaches to Personality

Question 1

define: personality

Answer 1

the non-physical (behavioural/psychological) aspects of someone

Question 2

define: persona

Answer 2

mask worn to portray a character (the role one plays in life’s drama)

Question 3

what is the nomothetic approach to personality?

Answer 3

there is a certain brain area for each function of personality

Question 4

what is the idiographic approach to personality?

Answer 4

our personality comes as a result of the balancing the needs of the id, ego & superego

Question 5

how does the nomothetic approach to personality explain individual differences?

Answer 5

individual differences can be described and explained in terms of predefined attributes

Question 6

how does the idiographic approach to personality approach explaining individual differences?

Answer 6

individuals are so unique that two different people cannot be described using the same concepts

Question 7

what is the situational approach to personality?

Answer 7

personality is a series of largely unrelated states, primarily determined by situational factors, no core essences, but distinct behavioral signatures (eg if A -> B)

Question 8

what is the dispositional approach to personality?

Answer 8

personality is seen as consistent, internal dispositions to think/ act/ feel in similar ways independent of the situation - eg an extroverted person will almost always be more extroverted than an introverted person

Question 9

what approaches do most modern personality theories take?

Answer 9

nomothetic & dispositional

Question 10

how does the dispositional approach explain situational differences

Answer 10

Dispositional theorists do not deny a role of context/situation in moderating behaviour. But if you are extroverted, you will still be more sociable across the board than a more introverted personal
Traits also influence the types of situations encountered.

Question 11

What is the 4 temperament approach?

Answer 11

Origins of Personality theory in ancient Greece philosophy.
Rooted in descriptions of physical and mental disturbance.
The temperament someone has comes as a result of 4 bodily fluids

Question 12

what are the 4 temperaments and what do they coincide with?

Answer 12

Phlegmatic: calm, relaxed
Choleric: angry
Sanguine: happy
Melancholic: depressed, unhappy

Question 13

who first described physical illnesses as arising from balance of bodily fluids (humours)

Answer 13

Hippocrates

Question 14

who applied the bodily fluid = illness theory to temperament?

Answer 14

Galen

Question 15

how has the 4 temperament approach influenced modern personality approached?

Answer 15

Notion of personality ‘types’
Temperament descriptors have influenced modern theories of personality
Specifies links between biology and temperament.

Question 16

What are Eysenck’s ‘Gigantic 3’ personality traits?

Answer 16

neuroticism, extroversion, psychoticism (PEN)

Question 17

define: psychoticism (Eysenck)

Answer 17

emotionally unstable (N), but with lower levels of fear and anxiety, lack of remorse or conscience, and lack of appreciation of consequences of actions.

Question 18

How would someone high in neuroticism and extraversion map onto the 4 temperaments?

Answer 18

choleric (angry)

Question 19

How would someone high in neuroticism and low in extraversion map onto the 4 temperaments?

Answer 19

melancholic (depressed)

Question 20

How would someone low in neuroticism and low in extraversion map onto the 4 temperaments?

Answer 20

phlegmatic (calm)

Question 21

How would someone high in neuroticism and low in extraversion map onto the 4 temperaments?

Answer 21

sanguine (happy)

Question 22

what distinguishes psychoticism from the other dimensions of Eysenck’s gigantic 3

Answer 22

it is not normally distributed, most people score low

Question 23

define: psychopath

Answer 23

extreme personality associated with a callous, deceptive, manipulative nature, an inability to feel remorse, empathy or deep-seated emotions and a tendency to violate social conventions and norms

Question 24

define: psychosis

Answer 24

mental disturbance associated wit a break from reality
- closely linked to personality trait schizotypy

Question 25

what areas of the brain are associated with Eysenck's extroversion?

Answer 25

reticulo-cortical system & Ascending Reticular Activation System (ARAS)

Question 26

how does cortical arousal explain extraversion?

Answer 26

Resting low level of cortical arousal They seek out external stimulation

Question 27

how does cortical arousal explain introversion?

Answer 27

Resting high levels of cortical arousal Avoid external stimulation

Question 28

what are the challenges of measuring cortical arousal?

Answer 28

Very high/low arousal level of task will cause Extraverts or Introverts to adapt to preferred level of cortical arousal – obscures differences. - so this can cause differences in responses to difficult tasks

Question 29

how would an extrovert react to a task high in arousal/difficulty?

Answer 29

would be happy with this arousal so would participate more & their cortical arousal would increase

Question 30

how would an introvert react to a task high in arousal/difficulty?

Answer 30

introverts try to relax & bring down arousal levels

Question 31

how would an introvert react to a task low in arousal/difficulty?

Answer 31

introvert cortical activity would increase (try to keep it high)

Question 32

how would an extrovert react to a task low in arousal/difficulty?

Answer 32

extroverts cortical activity would decrease (suits how they want to be)

Question 33

What did Tran, Craig & McIsaac (2001) find in their eye opening experiment?

Answer 33

There was a significant difference in line with Eysenk’s theory - extroverts had lower EEG activity than introverts

Question 34

which area of the brain is associated with neuroticism (Eysenck)?

Answer 34

reticulo-limbic system = Cingulate cortex = Fornix = Mammillary Body = Hippocampus = Amygdala = Hypothalamus

Question 35

what is the biological basis for psychoticism?

Answer 35

male hormones or dopamine levels

Question 36

which personality questionnaires are Eysenck's 'Gigantic 3' responsible for?

Answer 36

EPI : Eysenck Personality Inventory MMQ: Maudsley Medical Questionnaire EPQ-R : Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (revised) EPP : Eysenck Personality Profiler

Question 37

who developed behavioural reinforcement sensitivity theory?

Answer 37

Jefferey gray

Question 38

what is the behavioural activation system?

Answer 38

conditioned response with rewarding stimuli - activates approach behaviour & motivation to seek reward

Question 39

what is the behavioural inhibition system?

Answer 39

conditioned response with negative stimuli - inhibits approach behaviour & motivation to avoid punishment

Question 40

what are the 2 dimensions of Gray's Behavioural Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory

Answer 40

behavioural inhibition vs behavioural activation system high anxiety vs low anxiety