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Personality > Biological Bases of Personality > Flashcards

Biological Bases of Personality Flashcards

Neurotransmitters Brain structures Hormones

1
Q

Early ideas: The Four “Humours” and Personality

A

Sanguine
Melancholic
Choleric
Phlegmatic

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2
Q

Ancient Greek thinkers: Hippocrates and Galen

  • Personality patterns or temperament is dependant on various fluids in one’s body
A

four main humors

  1. Blood: very cheerful = sanguine
  2. Black bile: depressive = melancholic
  3. Yellow bile: angry = choleric
  4. Phlegm: calm = phlegmatic

no empirical evidence

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3
Q

Idea remained influential

e.g. Ivan Pavlov (famous Russian psychologist)

A
  1. Weak: anxious = melancholic
  2. strong unbalanced = irritable / choleric
  3. strong balanced slow = calm / phlegmatic
  4. strong balanced mobile = lively / sanguine
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4
Q

Neurotransmitters and Cloninger’s theory

A

Dopamine & Novelty Seeking

Serotonin & Harm Avoidance

Norepinephrine & Reward Dependence

Empirical tests of Cloninger’s theory

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5
Q

Neurotransmitters and Cloninger’s theory

A

Firing of neurons: basis of emotions, thoughts, behaviours

Neurotransmitters are biochemical substances involved in the communication among neurons

Level of neurotransmitters might influence one’s personality

Focus is on three neurotransmitters active in the brain and spinal chord (the central nervous system)

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6
Q

How neurotransmitters work?

A

End of axon stops adjacent to the dendrite

Gap is called synapse

This is the location of communication between nerve cells

Axon terminal releases chemicals that affect the dendrites on other side of synapse

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7
Q

Dopamine and Novelty Seeking

A

Transmission of signals of reward, in response to things that feel pleasurable and exciting

Cloninger: personality characteristics related to one’s response to PLEASURE and EXCITEMENT

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8
Q

Underactivated dopamine system…

A

Parkinson’s disease: Extremely inactive

  • Lack of interest in new or fun activities
  • Uncoordinated movements
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9
Q

Overactivated dopamine system

A

Cocaine: increases dopamine activity

  • Extremely aroused
  • Increase in novelty seeking behaviour
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10
Q

Serotonin and Harm Avoidance

A

Inhibits the transmission of signals of punishment,

Preventing neurons to send message in response to things that feel harmful or unpleasant

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11
Q

Cloninger: personality characteristics related to pain and anxiety

A

Low levels of serotonin = high in “Harm Avoidance”

  • Worry/pessimism
  • Fear of uncertainty
  • Shyness with strangers
  • Fatigability
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12
Q

Antidepressant drugs such as
Prozac
Paxil

-> keep the serotonin system active

A

Inhibition of transmitting punishment signals

Reduction of negative emotions such as anxiety and depression

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13
Q

Norepinephrine and Reward Dependence

A

Inhibits the transmission of signals of responding to stimuli that in the past have been associated with reward

Signals of conditioned reward

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14
Q

Cloninger: personality characteristics related to people and things that have been associated with pleasure

A

Low levels of norepinephrine = high in “Reward Dependence”

  • Sentimentality
  • Warm communication
  • Dependence
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15
Q

Very inactive norepinephrine system

A

The tendency to develop strong sentimental attachment

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16
Q

Empirical test of Cloninger’s theory

A

Identify people who have different alleles of a gene that affects neurotransmitters

Compare people who have a different allele to see if there are any differences in the assumed personality traits

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17
Q

Comings et al. (2000): Investigation of the role of 59 genes in personality traits including:
7 related to dopamine
12 related to serotonin
9 related to norepinephrine

A

Each set of genes tended to be related to more than one of Cloninger’s personality dimensions

  • Reward Dependence was more strongly related to norepinephrine genes than to the other genes
  • Less clear support for the unique relations between Harm avoidance and serotonin genes and between Novelty seeking and Dopamine genes
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18
Q

Brain Structures

A

Gray’s theory

Eysenck’s theory

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19
Q

Gray’s Theory: Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST)

A

Brain regions work together as systems that underlie personality

  1. The Behavioural Activation System (BAS)
  2. The Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS)
  3. The Fight-or-Flight System (FFS)
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20
Q

The Behavioural Activation System (BAS)

A

Brain regions responsible for receiving signals from the nervous system which indicates that REWARDS are being experienced

Go-system

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21
Q

Go-system

A

Encourage pursuit of rewards

Communicating the pleasurable and exciting nature of rewards

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22
Q

People differ in the sensitivity of their BAS system

A

Stronger or more sensitive system = stronger pursuit of reward

Impulsivity, seeking pleasure and excitement

Cloninger’s Novelty Seeking dimension

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23
Q

The Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS)

A

Brain regions responsible for receiving signals from the nervous system which indicate that PUNISHMENTS are being experienced

Stop-system

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24
Q

Stop-system

A

Encourage avoidance of punishments, communicating the painful and frightening nature of punishments

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25
Q

People differ in the sensitivity of their BIS system:

A

Stronger or more sensitive system = stronger avoidance of punishments

Anxious, avoid pain and danger

Cloninger’s Harm Avoidance dimension

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26
Q

The Fight-or-Flight System (FFS)

A

In response to extremely threatening situations

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27
Q

People differ in the sensitivity of their Fight-Flight system:

A

Stronger or more sensitive system = more ready to fight or to flee in case of emergency

Showing extreme reactions: aggressive response, leaving hurriedly

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28
Q

Some researchers suggest that there might be a negative link with Cloninger’s Reward Dependence dimension

A

but there is not yet empirical evidence showing such association

29
Q

Eysenck’s Theory

A

Strict standards for scientific pursuits

  • Conceptual clarity
  • Precise measurement
  • Factor analysis
30
Q

Early theory: two superfactors

EN Theory of personality

A

Extraversion - Introversion

Neuroticism – Stability

31
Q

Later theory: three superfactors

PEN Theory of personality

A

Extraversion - Introversion

Neuroticism – Emotional Stability

Psychoticism

32
Q

Extraversion

A

People differ in the strength of their reactions to stimulations of their senses - arousability of their brains

Preference for high versus low level stimulation

33
Q

Extraverted people

A
  • Seek stimulation and sensation
  • Sociable
  • Lively
  • Active
  • Assertive
  • Enjoy loud music
  • Meetings
  • Parties
34
Q

Introverted people

A
  • Avoid stimulation
  • Prefer quieter surroundings
  • Avoid large crowds
35
Q

Individual differences in Extraversion are governed by the…

A

Ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)

36
Q

ARAS is located in the brain stem, where the spinal cord meets the brain

A

Nervous system receives stimulation from the environment

ARAS regulates the amount of stimulation that is admitted to the brain from the nervous system

37
Q

If one’s ARAS allows little stimulation, one feels UNDERAROUSED and thus SEEKS STIMULATION

A

Extraverted personality

38
Q

If one’s ARAS allows admits a lot of stimulation, one feels OVERAROUSED and thus AVOIDS stimulation

A

Introverted personality

39
Q

Neuroticism

A

People differ in the strength of their reactions to stressful stimuli

Very sensitive vs. much less sensitive to stress

40
Q

Very neurotic people

A

Feel a great deal of worry and nervousness, anxioux

41
Q

Emotionally stable people

A

Feel little stress

42
Q

Individual differences in Neuroticism are governed by the

A

Limbic system

43
Q

The limbic system consists of several connected structures

A

Regulate stress responses

Manage stressful stimuli, more emotionally stable

Overwhelmed by stressful stimuli, tend to be more neurotic

44
Q

Psychoticism

A

High levels in psychoticism -> higher levels of testosterone and low levels of the enzyme mono-amine oxidase (MAO)*

45
Q

MAO

A

Involved in the inactivation of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine

46
Q

Very psychotic people

A

Aggressive, cold, egocentric, impersonal, impulsive, tough-minded, antisocial

47
Q

High levels of psychoticism

A

Associated with criminal behaviour, mental illnesses, but also with creativity

48
Q

Gray’s and Eysenck’s dimensions: Empirical evidence

Lemon juice test (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1967)

A

The stimulation produced by the lemon juice is perceived more strongly by introverts than by extraverts

Introverts produced more saliva than extraverts

49
Q

Geen (1984): Effects on arousal and performance

A

Participants: introverts and extroverts had to complete a learning task while being exposed to noises

Measures: levels of arousal indicated by heart rates and levels of skin conductance

50
Q

Geen (1984): Findings

A

Choice condition: extraverts and introverts show comparable arousal levels (similar heart rates and skin conductance) because they have chosen their optimal/preferred levels of noise

Assigned-same condition condition (matches their personality): Introverts in the quiet condition and extraverts in the loud condition show similar results as participants in the choice condition

Assigned-different condition:
Introverts in the loud condition -> show higher arousal levels (overstimulated)
Extraverts in the quiet condition -> show lower levels of arousal (understimulated).

51
Q

Conclusion: Geen (1984)

A

Introverts prefer lower levels of stimulation than extraverts

Introverts are more aroused/react more strongly than extraverts under equal levels of stimulation

52
Q

Introverts performed better than extraverts under quiet noise condition

Extraverts performed better than introverts under loud noise condition

A

Results of these laboratory experiments are broadly consistent with Eysenck’s theory of the biological bases of Extraversion

53
Q

More research is needed to understand the brain structures that underlie personality

A

Some studies produced more complex patterns of results that are only partly consistent with Eysenck’s theory

54
Q

Zuckerman and his colleagues found evidence for three personality factors consistent with Eysenck’s dimensions but also obtained evidence for five factors (not Big Five)

A

Unlike Eysenck’s ideas, Zuckerman suggested that each personality dimension is influenced by

complex interactions between several brain structures, neurotransmitters, and hormones,

rather than by a single brain structure, neurotransmitter, or hormone

55
Q

Hormones

A

Testosterone
Cortisol
Oxytocin

56
Q

Hormones

A

Biological chemicals produced in glands of body parts then transmitted to other body parts

Affect neuron activity and may therefore influence personality

57
Q

Testosterone

A

Responsible for many physical characteristics of men

Development of male reproductive organs

Development of secondary sex characteristics

Levels are at least 10 times higher in men than in women

58
Q

Testosterone levels vary between individuals but also influenced by events and situations

A

Experiences of winning and losing, e.g. basketball fans

59
Q

Experiences of winning and losing (Bernhardt, Dabbs, Fielden, & Lutter, 1998) e.g. World Cup Soccer

A

Brazil won on penalties after extra time

Italian fans dropped out of participation more than Brazilian fans

60
Q

Levels of testosterone during early periods of development may influence behaviour later in life

A

Girls exposed prenatally (in womb) to high testosterone levels tended to prefer toys that are usually more preferred by boys than by girls

61
Q

How do testosterone levels relate to behaviour and personality?

Studies of Dabbs and colleagues: sample of 240 members of fraternities

A

Fraternities with higher average levels: rude, wilder, unruly, rambunctious

Fraternities with lower average levels: kind, more socially responsible, better academic achievement, more friendly

62
Q

Studies of Dabbs and colleagues: Sample of 692 prison inmates

A

Higher testosterone levels:

  • Crimes of a violent/sexual nature
  • Less with drug offences, theft, or burglary
  • More rule breaking in prisons
63
Q

Men versus women

A

Great difference in testosterone levels

Much smaller differences and considerable overlap in distribution of personality traits

-> Testosterone is clearly not the only factor influencing personality

64
Q

Cortisol

A

Hormone released by the adrenal cortex

Which triggered by stress to prepare the body for action

Increase in blood pressure and blood sugar

Suppression of the immune system

65
Q

Loney et al. (2006): Emotional reactivity - levels of “callous-unemotional” traits

A

Among boys but not among girls -> higher levels of callous-unemotional traits were associated with low cortisol levels

Little cortisol = more emotionally insensitive

66
Q

Rosenblitt et al. (2001): Sample of 143 college students

Investigated the associations between Testosterone, Cortisol and sensation seeking scores

A

No significant associations among women

No significant associations for testosterone in sensation seeking

High sensation seeking men had significantly lower cortisol levels

67
Q

Oxytocin (the love hormone)

A

Hormone produced in the hypothalamus

Released by the pituitary gland

68
Q

In women and female mammals, oxytocin is released when giving birth, breastfeeding, experiencing orgasm

A

Also men have oxytocin, facilitating a man’s emotional attachments with his partner and children

69
Q

Zak, Kurzban, and Matzner (2005): Students playing a trust game involving money

A

Students with higher (versus lower) levels of oxytocin trusted other students more in how to divide some money

More trustworthy students (dividing the money equally) had higher levels of oxytocin

-> Oxytocin plays a role in cooperative relationships and interpersonal attachment

Personality (9 decks)

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