Chapter 14- Eysenck

Question 1

What are the criteria for identifying a factor?

Answer 1

1. Psychometric evidence
2. Heritability
3. It must make sense from a theoretical view
4. It must possess social relevance

Question 2

What are the 4 levels of the hierarchy of behavior organization? (lowest to highest)

Answer 2

1. Specific acts or cognitions
2. Habitual acts or cognitions
3. Traits
4. Types/superfactors

Question 3

Human behavior is determined by what?

Answer 3

A series of traits

Question 4

Are traits more influenced by external factors or genetic factors?

Answer 4

Genetic

Question 5

What are the 3 dimensions of personality/bipolar factors?

Answer 5

Introversion/extroversion

Neuroticism/Stability

Psychoticism/superego functioning

Question 6

Extrovert’s nervous systems are _______?

Answer 6

under-aroused, meaning they crave stimulation from the outside world

Question 7

Introvert’s nervous systems are _____?

Answer 7

Over-aroused, meaning they don’t need stimulation from external sources

Question 8

How does neuroticism and stability relate to the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 8

Stable people have less reactive nervous systems, meaning they remain level-headed when reacting to stimuli

Neurotic people have more reactive nervous systems, meaning they are prone to over reacting to stimuli

Question 9

What is the principle difference between extraverts and introverts?

Answer 9

Cortical arousal level

Question 10

What evidence does Eysenck point to for a biological basis for his three factors?

Answer 10

• The same factors are found worldwide rather than in certain cultures
• Consistency over time (ex. scoring the same on extraversion even after 5 years)
• Twin studies- identical twins more similar in personality than faternal

Question 11

Why was Eysenck critical of psychology and psychotherapy?

Answer 11

It wasn’t scientific

Question 12

Name and describe the lowest level of behavioral organization

Answer 12

Specific acts or cognitions- aka individual behaviors or thoughts that may or may not be a characteristic of someone

ex. a student finishing an assignment

Question 13

Name and describe the second lowest behavior organization

Answer 13

Habitual acts or cognitions (habits)- responses that recur under similar conditions

ex. a student frequently keeps at an assignment until its finished as opposed to doing a bit and then taking a break

Question 14

Name and describe the second highest behavior organization

Answer 14

Traits- semi-permanent personality dispositions

ex. a student is persistent if they continuously work on an assignment until its finished (persistence would be the trait)

Question 15

Name and describe the highest level of behavior organization

Answer 15

Types/Superfactors- What Eysenck focused on, a type is made of up many interrelated traits.

ex. introverted type may have been formed from traits like social shyness, persistence, etc.

Question 16

Eysenck identified traits through the use of what?

Answer 16

factor analysis

Question 17

Give an example of a bipolar trait

Answer 17

extraversion/introversion

Question 18

People who score high on the psychoticism scale are what?

Answer 18

egocentric, aggressive, hostile, have low impulse control

Question 19

People who score high on the neuroticism scale (N) are what?

Answer 19

emotionally overreactive

Question 20

What is the biological determiner for each factor?

Answer 20

Extraversion- cortical arousal level

Neuroticism- Limbic system activity

Psychoticism- Endocrine gland functioning/high testosterone

Question 21

Hohmuth described psychoticism as what?

Answer 21

Low vs high impulse control