Eysenck's personality Flashcards
what is this theory
eysenck proposed that personality traits are biologically based and can be measured along three dimensions: extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism
what is the basis of this theory
Eysenck believed that individual differences in personality are rooted in biological factors, particularly genetics and the functioning of the nervous system.
What characterizes individuals high in extraversion?
Outgoing, sociable, and energized by external stimulation.
What characterizes individuals low in extraversion (introverts)?
Reserved, prefer solitude, and are sensitive to overstimulation.
How does the arousal level of the brain relate to extraversion?
Extraverts have lower baseline arousal, so they seek external stimulation.
Introverts have higher baseline arousal, so they avoid excessive stimulation.
What traits are associated with high neuroticism?
Emotional instability, anxiety, and frequent mood swings.
What traits are associated with low neuroticism?
Emotional stability, calmness, and resilience.
What biological factor is linked to neuroticism?
Differences in the reactivity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS); highly neurotic individuals may have a more reactive ANS.
What traits are associated with high psychoticism?
Aggressiveness, impulsivity, and a lack of empathy.
What is the biological basis of psychoticism?
Higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of serotonin are thought to be linked to psychotic traits.
What is the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ)?
A self-report measure designed to assess the three dimensions of personality (E, N, and P).
What is the purpose of the lie scale in the EPQ?
To detect social desirability bias in responses.
How does Eysenck link personality traits to criminal behavior?
Criminals are more likely to score high on Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism. This combination leads to risk-taking, impulsivity, and emotional instability.
Why do high extraversion and neuroticism scores relate to criminal behavior?
High Extraversion: Seek stimulation and excitement, which may lead to rule-breaking.
High Neuroticism: Prone to anxiety, making them less likely to resist temptation.
How does conditioning explain criminal behavior in Eysenck’s theory?
Individuals with high E and N scores are less responsive to social conditioning, making them less likely to learn societal norms.
What is Eysenck’s view on the biological basis of personality?
He argued that personality traits are heritable and linked to the functioning of the central and autonomic nervous systems.
What evidence supports the biological basis of Eysenck’s theory?
Twin studies show higher concordance rates for personality traits in monozygotic (identical) twins compared to dizygotic (fraternal) twins.
What are some strengths of Eysenck’s theory?
Empirical support from twin and adoption studies.
Practical applications in criminal profiling and therapy.
Links personality to measurable biological factors.
What are some criticisms of Eysenck’s personality theory?
Overemphasis on biological determinism, neglecting environmental influences.
Simplistic reduction of personality to three dimensions.
Limited cultural validity due to a Western focus in research.
How do alternative theories challenge Eysenck’s model?
The Big Five model proposes five dimensions of personality (OCEAN), offering a more comprehensive framework.
What research supports Eysenck’s link between personality and criminality?
Studies have found that prisoners tend to score higher on E, N, and P compared to the general population.
How has Eysenck’s theory been applied in real-world contexts?
In clinical settings to understand personality disorders.
In criminology for offender profiling.
To develop tailored therapeutic interventions.
What research supports Eysenck’s concept of extraversion?
Eysenck (1967): Found that introverts respond more strongly to stimuli, supporting differences in baseline arousal.
Zuckerman (1979): Found higher stimulation-seeking behavior in extraverts, supporting Eysenck’s claims.
What research evidence supports the link between neuroticism and the ANS?
Eysenck and Eysenck (1975): Found that individuals scoring high on neuroticism showed greater physiological responses to stress.
What research supports the biological basis of psychoticism?
Eysenck and Eysenck (1976): Found high psychoticism scores in criminals, supporting the link to aggression and impulsivity.
Raine (1993): Found reduced prefrontal cortex activity in individuals with antisocial personality traits, which aligns with psychoticism.
What evidence supports Eysenck’s theory of criminal personality?
Eysenck and Eysenck (1977): Found that prisoners scored higher on E, N, and P compared to non-prisoners.
Farrington et al. (1982): Found moderate support for the link between high N and criminality but less consistent results for E and P.
What criticisms are raised against the research evidence?
Farrington et al. (1982) noted that self-report measures like the EPQ might be biased by social desirability or poor self-awareness.
What research challenges Eysenck’s theory?
Digman (1990): Proposed the Big Five model of personality (OCEAN), which expands personality dimensions.
Mischel (1968): Argued that personality is not stable across situations, contradicting Eysenck’s emphasis on fixed traits.
What evidence supports genetic influences on personality traits?
Rushton et al. (1986): Found high heritability estimates for traits like extraversion and neuroticism using twin studies.
