7 basic systems (Panksepp)

Question 1

Seeking

Answer 1

Provides energy, essential to acquire resources. Most connected to Lust and Care. (also all others)

Clinical spectrum:
- High: Manic
- Low: Anhedonic

Question 2

Fear

Answer 2

Fight or flight system, and feeling safe/recklessness

Clinical:
- High: Anxiety
- Low: Risk taking/psychopathic

Question 3

Rage

Answer 3

To defend or feel frustration when expected reward doesn’t come

Clinical:
High: Explosive
Low: No assertion

Question 4

Lust

Answer 4

Procreation, pleasure

Clinical:
High: Problematic sexual behaviour
Low: Impotence, lack of pleasure

Question 5

Care

Answer 5

To provide social connection, parent

Clinical:
High: self-sacrifice
Low: Anti-social

Question 6

Panic/grief

Answer 6

In loss of contact, losing connections or people/things you care about

Clinical:
High: Separation anxiety
Low: Schizoid

Question 7

Play

Answer 7

To learn, create friendship

Clinical:
High: Difficult, ADHD
Low: Joyless

Question 8

3 major evolutionary passages of the brain

Answer 8

Reptilian (deep subcortical).
- For vital functions
- 4 primary systems (Seeking, Fear, Rage, Lust)

Old mammalian (Limbic)
- More complex emotions
- 3 higher social systems (Care, Panic/Grief, Play)

Neo-mammalian (neocortical)
- Cortical-cognitive competence
- Can’t operate wo lower layers

Question 9

Relation to FFM

Answer 9

Openness: High seeking

C -

Extraversion: High play

Agreeableness: High care, Low anger

Neuroticism: High fear, High sadness, High anger

Personality can be understood as the unique differences in bottom up motivational energy derived from primary emotional systems, together with top down regulation capacities from higher cortical brain regions.