Ch 4-5-6 Personality Stability (class 7 & 8) Flashcards
Eysenck & Activation
Key neurosystem: Ascending reticular activating systems (ARAS)
Resting arousal level
Introverts high levels in ARAS External stimuli overwhelming
Extroverts low levels in arras
External stimuli = helpful
Eysenck on Activation
Key neurosystem: Ascending reticular activating systems (ARAS)
Resting arousal level
Introverts high levels in ARAS External stimuli overwhelming
Extroverts low levels in arras
External stimuli = helpful
What do studies tell us about introvert vs extrovert diff vs Arousal levels
at rest similar
Reaction different to stimuli
Eysenck & Arousability
Arousal response
Introverts
Need less stimulation to reach optimal level
Over-arousal is a risk
Extroverts
Need more stimulation to reach optimal level
Under-arousal is a risk
What is reactivity
Reactivity
How we respond to stimuli and the environment around us
Reactivity vs Reward & Punishment
What is Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory
Gray
Based on (hypothetical) biological system
Behavioural activation system (BAS)
Behavioural inhibition system (BIS)
BAS - Behavioural Activation System
Approach drive
Responsive to incentive stimuli
Rewards
New experiences
New people
in Reinforcement sensitivity theory
What is BIS - Behavioural Activation System
Withdrawal drive
Responsive to punishment stimuli
Fear of consequences
Fear of the unfamiliar
Fear of judgement
(in Reinforcement sensitivity theory)
BIS BAS - Links to personality
Impulsivity
High BAS
Sensitive to reward
Seeks out positive emotions and stimuli
Anxious
High BIS
Sensitive to cues of punishment, stress, novelty
At risk for negative
Life outcomes
Impulsivity
Don’t learn well from punishment
More likely to engage in risky (potentially illegal) behaviours
Anxiety
Don’t trust rewards
Less likely to engage in novel or potentially risky situations
More likely to be closed off and self-limiting
Life outcomes or BIS BAS
Impulsivity
Don’t learn well from punishment
More likely to engage in risky (potentially illegal) behaviours
Anxiety
Don’t trust rewards
Less likely to engage in novel or potentially risky situations
More likely to be closed off and self-limiting
People in the middle BIS BAS
Consider shyness Not outgoing Not introverted Still want to be engaged in social world But fearful
People in the middle BIS BAS
Shyness
Not outgoing
Not introverted
Still want to be engaged in social world
But fearful
Sensation Seeking
Seeking out new and exciting stimuli/activities
Try to avoid boredom and sameness
More likely to engage in risky behaviours
Optimal level of arousal
All humans have a level where arousal is useful vs. stressful
Motivates us to avoid boredom
What prompts us to engage in strenuous activities?
Sensation Seeking and Gambling
Winning is an excellent positive emotion/sensation and motivator
High sensation seekers love the rush of winning
At risk for gambling behaviours
Sensation seeking and video games study - Overwatch game
Are videogame microtransactions similar to traditional slot-machine gambling?
Does rarity of certain rewards heighten arousal?
Does this increase chances of continuing to pay for rewards?
Results : Sensation seeking and video games study - Overwatch game
Rarity = greater arousal, more positive emotions, and more urge-inducing
Obtaining reward items gave similar arousal to earning money via slot-machines
Increased urge to find and open (and pay for) more boxes
Gambling behaviour
Neurons
Cell body Nucleus Axon Dendrites signal in Axon terminal signal away
Neurotransmitters
Between the Axon and Dendrite
What is MAO Monoamine Oxidase
Enzyme
Monitors levels of neurotransmitters
High MAO
Not enough neurotransmitter = less nerve transmission
Dulled sensation, lethargy
Low MAO
Too much neurotransmitter = too much nerve transmission
Lots of sensory information, jitteriness
MAO links to personality
Personality
Not based on base reactivity level
Based on MAO levels
Low sensation seeking, more risk averse
High MAO
High sensation seeking, less risk averse
Low MAO
important neurotransmitters in personality
Dopamine
Serotonin
Norepinephrine
Describe dopamine
Pleasure
‘Feel good’ neurotransmitter
High dopamine
Competitiveness, aggression, low impulse control
ADHD
Low dopamine
Low motivation, low concentration
Anxiety, (also) ADHD
Serotonin
Mood stabilizer
High serotonin
Too much regulation
Low arousal
Low serotonin
Not enough regulation
Anxiety, depression
Norepinephrine
Stress
Fight or flight system
High norepinephrine Worry, anxiety Insomnia Irritability Anxiety, mania
Low norepinephrine
Low arousal and motivation
Fatigue
Depression, ADHD
What is the difference personality psychopathology
Personality who we are as individuals
Psychopathology How our traits may make our quality of life poorer.
What is the Tridimensional personality theory
Cloninger
3 personality traits and 3 neurotransmitters
Summery of traits
vs Novelty seeking -
- Brain system
- Neurotransmitter
- Behaviour
Novelty seeking -
- Brain system - Behavioural activation
- Neurotransmitter - Dopamine
- Behaviour - Exploratory, avoidance of punishment / boredom, motivation to seek potential reward
ex low = seek external replacement Novelty, excitement
Summery of traits
vs Harm Avoidance -
- Brain system
- Neurotransmitter
- Behaviour
Novelty seeking -
- Brain system - Behavioural inhibition
- Neurotransmitter - Serotonin
- Behaviour - Avoidance punishment and novelty
Low harm avoidance
Energetic, outgoing, optimistic
High harm avoidance
Cautious, inhibited, shy
Summery of traits
vs Reward dependence
- Brain System
- Neurotransmitter
- Behaviour
- Brain system - Behavioural maintenance
- Neurotransmitter - norepinephrine
- Work towards reward or avoid punishment.
High in this trait = low norepinephrine
Persistent
Goal motivated
Links to personality vs Novelty seeking Harm avoidance and reward dependence
see tableau
Life outcomes vs Novelty seeking Harm avoidance and reward dependence
Addiction
High novelty seeking = alcohol to supplement low dopamine
High harm avoidance = alcohol to relieve stress
Violent offense
High novelty seeking, high harm avoidance, low reward dependence
What is the difference between Reactive and Non reactive Psychology
Reactive – outside world triggers the personality
Non-reactive – baseline settings
Even before reactive
What is brain asymmetry
Measured via EEG
Differences in alpha waves – sleepy wave
Less alpha wave = more reactivity
In general:
Left side activation: pleasant emotions
Right side activation: unpleasant emotions
What are the brain waves
- Beta
- Alpha
- Delta
- Theta
- Gamma
Links brain asymmetry & personality
Right-sided asymmetry
Greater reactivity and processing of negative stimuli
More susceptible to stress, anxiety, depression
Left-sided asymmetry
Greater reactivity and processing of positive stimuli
Generally happy
More susceptible to mania
Sleep Wake cycles
Night owl
Early bird
Circadian Rhythms (circle / day) Biological process that operates around 24-25h cycle
Body temperature - Endocrine system
Short biorhythm
Early birds = approx. 22 hour rhythm
Peak temperatures and alertness early in the day
Energy early in the day
Sleepy earlier
Long biorhythm
Night owls = approx. 26 hour rhythm
Peak temperature and alertness later in the day
Harder to wake up & Later to go to sleep
Life outcomes Sleep Wake cycles
9-5 work week = suited for short biorhythm
Work from home?
Personal relationships
Mismatch between rhythms can lead to interpersonal difficulties
Caffeine consumption
Long biorhythm = caffeine early in the day
Short biorhythm = caffeine late at night
Disposition
Who we generally are
Our core personality
Consistency across situations
What is temperament
- Innate traits, present from birth
- Biological markers
- Neurological markers
Personality Gobstoper
Life experience
Friends
Parenting
Temperament
= Personality
Personality and development ex shy
Longitudinal studies show 3months predict shyness adulthood
Personality and development ex Self esteem ado - adult
Self-esteem from adolescence to adulthood
Men tend to increase in self-confidence
Women tend to decrease
Personality and development ex Sensation seeking
Sensation seeking
Increases from childhood to adolescence
Peak at 18-20
Decreases through adulthood
Can we change personality
Yes
If motivated
If set goals and work towards them
Basic Genetics -
Nucleus
Chromosome
DNA
Genome
describe the Genome
The entire combination of DNA and genes to create the individual
“Instruction manual”
describe the chromosome
All humans have 23 paired chromosomes
46 chromosomes
Chain of data, made of DNA
Identifies whether certain traits will be expressed or not
Describe DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Molecules that store information for creating proteins
Describe Gene
Small section of chromosome
Carries information for heritability of traits
Variation in the gene = allele
Differences Genotype Phenotype
Genotype
Genotype
Differences on a genetic level
Inherited
Differences Genotype Phenotype
Phenotype
Phenotype
Observable characteristics
Not inherited
Influenced by genotype
Can be influenced by environment
What is a Predisposition
Potential to be more likely to express something
Not a guarantee!
Environmental influences
What is Molecular Genetics vs personality
Trying to identify specific genes associated with personality traits
DRD4 gene
Chromosome 11
Linked to dopamine
Long-repeat DRD4 – higher in novelty and risk-taking behaviours
Not as responsive to dopamine so need more stimuli
Short-repeat DRD4 – less risk-taking behaviours
Brains already have enough dopamine
Behavioural Genetics what is the risk
What’s the risk of assigning too much to genetics?
Assigning people to different categories based on genetics
“Born bad”
Ignores:
Role of the environment
Personal growth
Stranford-Binet and the IQ test
Intelligence quotient (IQ) was originally designed for disability purposes
Identify children that may require additional support to be successful in school
Eugenics Movement
Eugenics: improving human population through controlled breeding
Positive eugenics
Negative eugenics Sexual Sterilization Laws Alberta (1928) British Columbia (1933) Very similar to was happening in the United States and Nazi Germany
Goals of Behavioural Genetics
What makes us different?
How much can we attribute to the environment?
What exact parts of the environment?
How much can we attribute to how we’re born?
What is Heritability
Statistic
Degree to which genetic differences cause difference
Proportion of phenotypic variance that is attributable to genotypic variance
Explain Heritability ≠ inherited
Heritability: likelihood of getting a trait, not necessarily genetics
Might happen, might not happen
Behaviours, traits
Inherited: passed down via genetics
Disease
Heritability scale
1 High - no environmental influences all genetic influence
0.5 Moderate - equal contribution by environment and genetics
0 Low - No genetic influence all environment
Nature Nurture debate
Nature
Biologically-based
Innate
Genetics
Nurture Based on upbringing Environmental factors The change Environmentalism
Individual vs population
Genotype - Environment interaction
Genotype - Environment correlation
Individual vs population
Genotype - Environment interaction
Ind. diff genotype React diff to same situation
Genotype - Environment correlation selection
Are certain opportunities and environment given to an individual based on genotype Exposure to environment as influenced by the genotype
Genotype Environment Relations 3 effects
Passive effects
Evocative effects
Active effects
Main ways to Studying genetics
Selective breeding
Family studies
Twin studies
Adoption studies
Ways to study Genetics
Describe selective breeding
For Animals - Ethics say no for humans
Choosing traits we want in lineage
Physical, temperamental traits
Ways to study Genetics
Describe Family studies
How much similarity can be found within families
Genetic rules :
We get 50% of our genes from each of our parent
We share 50% of genes with siblings
Ways to study Genetics
What do we consider in family studies
Shared vs non shared environments (upbringing and physical environments)
Ways to study Genetics
Describe two types of Twin studies
Identical twins share 100% of the same genes
Monozygotic twins
Fraternal twins share 50% of the same genes
Dizygotic twins
Like any other siblings
Ways to study Genetics
Equal environments assumption vs twin studies
Assumes that identical twins aren’t treated differently than fraternal twins
Are identical twins treated differently based on their twin-ess?
Even differently than fraternal twins?
Ways to study Genetics
Describe adoption studies
One of most well-known study methods for behavioural genetics
If a child is raised away from their biological parents…
Strong similarities = genetic influences
Differences = environmental influences
However: selective placement
Ways to study Genetics
Pros Cons Selective breathing
Pros if it works we can infer heritability
Cons Ethics
Ways to study Genetics
Pros Cons Family studies
Pros Heritability and environment estimate
Cons Sometimes can violate = environment assumption
Ways to study Genetics
Pros cons Adoption Studies
Pros Heritability and environment estimates avoids equal environment violations
Cons True representation of population? Selective placements…
Ways to study Genetics
What it tells us about traits
Neuroticism negative affect extraversion
Activity level
Neuroticism/negative affect and extraversion
.54 - .60 (moderate)
Activity level
.40 (moderate)
Ways to study genetics
What it tells us about traits
Traditionalism
Occupation
Religious attitude
Traditionalism:
.59 (moderate)
Occupations:
71% of genetic children showed heritability of occupational preference
3% of adopted children showed heritability of occupational preference
Not a factor of environment
Religious attitude:
Basically zero
3 Key factors of personality statility
- Meaningful individual differences
- Stability or consistency over time
- Consistency across situations
3 Key factors of personality statility
- Meaningful individual differences
The differences between ppl
Differential psychology
3 Key factors of personality statility
- Consistency over time
Maintenance of personality across time
3 Key factors of personality stability
- Consistency across situations
Consistency across situations, environments and interactions
Ways our personality interact with the world
- Situational specificity
- Situational selection
- Evocation
- Manipulation
What is situation specificity
How do we act when placed in a unique situation
What type of situation makes it more likely everyone act the same
Strong situation
What is an evocation
What our personality provoques in the environment
What is Selection
How we interpret situations according to our personality.
