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Unit 3 Psychology > Eysenck's personality > Flashcards

Eysenck's personality Flashcards

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1
Q

what is this theory

A

eysenck proposed that personality traits are biologically based and can be measured along three dimensions: extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism

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2
Q

what is the basis of this theory

A

Eysenck believed that individual differences in personality are rooted in biological factors, particularly genetics and the functioning of the nervous system.

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3
Q

What characterizes individuals high in extraversion?

A

Outgoing, sociable, and energized by external stimulation.

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4
Q

What characterizes individuals low in extraversion (introverts)?

A

Reserved, prefer solitude, and are sensitive to overstimulation.

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5
Q

How does the arousal level of the brain relate to extraversion?

A

Extraverts have lower baseline arousal, so they seek external stimulation.
Introverts have higher baseline arousal, so they avoid excessive stimulation.

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6
Q

What traits are associated with high neuroticism?

A

Emotional instability, anxiety, and frequent mood swings.

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7
Q

What traits are associated with low neuroticism?

A

Emotional stability, calmness, and resilience.

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8
Q

What biological factor is linked to neuroticism?

A

Differences in the reactivity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS); highly neurotic individuals may have a more reactive ANS.

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9
Q

What traits are associated with high psychoticism?

A

Aggressiveness, impulsivity, and a lack of empathy.

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10
Q

What is the biological basis of psychoticism?

A

Higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of serotonin are thought to be linked to psychotic traits.

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11
Q

What is the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ)?

A

A self-report measure designed to assess the three dimensions of personality (E, N, and P).

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12
Q

What is the purpose of the lie scale in the EPQ?

A

To detect social desirability bias in responses.

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13
Q

How does Eysenck link personality traits to criminal behavior?

A

Criminals are more likely to score high on Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism. This combination leads to risk-taking, impulsivity, and emotional instability.

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14
Q

Why do high extraversion and neuroticism scores relate to criminal behavior?

A

High Extraversion: Seek stimulation and excitement, which may lead to rule-breaking.
High Neuroticism: Prone to anxiety, making them less likely to resist temptation.

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15
Q

How does conditioning explain criminal behavior in Eysenck’s theory?

A

Individuals with high E and N scores are less responsive to social conditioning, making them less likely to learn societal norms.

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16
Q

What is Eysenck’s view on the biological basis of personality?

A

He argued that personality traits are heritable and linked to the functioning of the central and autonomic nervous systems.

17
Q

What evidence supports the biological basis of Eysenck’s theory?

A

Twin studies show higher concordance rates for personality traits in monozygotic (identical) twins compared to dizygotic (fraternal) twins.

18
Q

What are some strengths of Eysenck’s theory?

A

Empirical support from twin and adoption studies.
Practical applications in criminal profiling and therapy.
Links personality to measurable biological factors.

19
Q

What are some criticisms of Eysenck’s personality theory?

A

Overemphasis on biological determinism, neglecting environmental influences.
Simplistic reduction of personality to three dimensions.
Limited cultural validity due to a Western focus in research.

20
Q

How do alternative theories challenge Eysenck’s model?

A

The Big Five model proposes five dimensions of personality (OCEAN), offering a more comprehensive framework.

21
Q

What research supports Eysenck’s link between personality and criminality?

A

Studies have found that prisoners tend to score higher on E, N, and P compared to the general population.

22
Q

How has Eysenck’s theory been applied in real-world contexts?

A

In clinical settings to understand personality disorders.
In criminology for offender profiling.
To develop tailored therapeutic interventions.

23
Q

What research supports Eysenck’s concept of extraversion?

A

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.

24
Q

What research evidence supports the link between neuroticism and the ANS?

A

Eysenck and Eysenck (1975): Found that individuals scoring high on neuroticism showed greater physiological responses to stress.

25
Q

What research supports the biological basis of psychoticism?

A

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.

26
Q

What evidence supports Eysenck’s theory of criminal personality?

A

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.

27
Q

What criticisms are raised against the research evidence?

A

Farrington et al. (1982) noted that self-report measures like the EPQ might be biased by social desirability or poor self-awareness.

28
Q

What research challenges Eysenck’s theory?

A

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.

29
Q

What evidence supports genetic influences on personality traits?

A

Rushton et al. (1986): Found high heritability estimates for traits like extraversion and neuroticism using twin studies.

Unit 3 Psychology (17 decks)

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