Ch. 9 : Biological Approach -- Exam 3 Flashcards
What does the biological approach stress
the importance of a biological influence on personality
Biological creatures
humans
What are humans born with
predispositions to respond in particular ways to the environment
How can traits be altered
by socialization
When our environment and our genes interact
to produce behavior
Which play a stronger role
biological factors
What do trait theorists believe
people are born with no personalities
How did THe personality theory add to trait theory
biological foundation of each trait (genetic component)
What did personality theory rely on
factor anaylsis
What are the 3 supertraits
Extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism
Specific Responses
watch someone spend the afternoon talking and laughing with friends
Habitual Responses
person spends any hours/ many afternoons with friends
Exhibits the trait of sociability
interactions not limited to afternoons with friends but all kinds of social gatherings
Traits combine to form what
extraversion, or people who are sociable tend to be impulsive, active, likely and excitable
Extraversion
sociable, impulsive, excitable, active, lively
Neuroticism
emotionally unstable, high anxiety level
Psychoticism
insensitive to others, hostile, cruel
Introverts
likely to be more sensitive to stimulation
Extraverts
must seek stimulation to maintain their brain activity level (arousal level) and avoid boredom
Over time, are supertraits stable or unstable?
stable
What does temperaments refer to
a person’s way of interacting with the world
What are the 3 temperaments in the Buss-Plomin model
Activity, emotionality, sociability
Activity
general level of energy output
Activity: Children high
fidget;squirm