Ch. 14 Biologically Based Factor Theory

Question 1

biological basis for personality

Answer 1

genetics, heredity y biology

• fetal activity + heart rate = predictor of temperament
• twin adoption studies (identical vs. fraternal)
• biological family members vs. adopted members
• brain imaging (EEG + MRI)

Question 2

Hans J. Eysenck

Answer 2

Berlin, Germany

• moved to England to escape Nazies
• published “Dimensions of Personality”
• one of the most prolific/creative + controversial psychologists in the world
• researched that “intelligence was inherited” esp. intellectual capacities btwn ethnicities
• thought psychotherapy/counseling no benefit

**all evidence based research

Question 3

four criteria for identifying a factor

Answer 3

requirements

(1) psychometric evidence
(2) heritability
(3) makes sense from theoretical view (deductive reasoning)
(4) must possess social relevance, related to social variables (ie, behavior, addiction)

Question 4

psychometric evidence

Answer 4

reliable + replicable

- one of the requirements to be a factor

Question 5

heritability

Answer 5

not learned characteristics

- one of the requirements to be a factor

Question 6

hierarchy of behavior organization

Answer 6

most specific to most general:

(1) special acts or cognitions
(2) habitual acts or cognitions
(3) traits
(4) types or superfactors

Question 7

special acts or cognitions

Answer 7

individual behaviors or thoughts that may or may not be characteristic of a person
- lowest level/most specific

(ie) student finishing a reading assignment

Question 8

habitual acts or cognitions

Answer 8

consistent responses that recur under same conditions
- must be reasonably reliable or consistent

(ie) procrastination

Question 9

traits

Answer 9

when habitual acts/cognitions are demonstrated across different conditions or situations

Question 10

types/superfactors

Answer 10

cluster of primary traits
- made up of related traits

(ie) extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism

Question 11

general bipolar superfactors/types (3)

Answer 11

extraversion
neuroticism
psychoticism

Question 12

factor

Answer 12

independent of each other

(ie) can be high extraversion but low neuroticism

Question 13

extraversion

Answer 13

/intraversion

superfactor

• high score = high sociability, impulsiveness y optimism
• differences due to cortical-arousal level (inherited)
• extravert = low cortical-arousal level
• low baseline CAL/stimulation, need stimulation, seek it out to reach normal levels

Question 14

neuroticism

Answer 14

/emotional stability

superfactor

• high score = anxiety, hysteria, depression y somatic symptoms
• diathesis-stress model

**think emotions

Question 15

diathesis-stress model

Answer 15

genetic predisposition when combined w/ stressor elevate vulnerability to neurotic disorders

Question 16

psychoticism

Answer 16

/superego

superfactor

• high score = egocentric, nonconforming, psychopathic y antisocial
• diathesis-stress model assumes high P scorers during high levels of stress (more likely to develop psychosis)

**think psychopathology

Question 17

3/4 of personality dimensions can be accounted for by heredity

Answer 17

• found these factors to exist cross-culturally
• stability of traits over time w/ age
• twin research suggests strong similarities on these dimensions

Question 18

personality as a predictor

Answer 18

(1) extraverts have higher demands for change
(2) extraverts prefer more active learning; introverts prefer more passive
(3) high E y high P can be trouble-makers but treated different (E accepted, P not accepted)
(4) low N score, suppress emotions