Individual differences

Question 1

Describe Eysenck’s model of personality.

Answer 1

Eysenck hypothesised that personality consists of two independent traits:
• NEUROTICISM – the tendency to experience negative emotions
• EXTRAVERSION – degree to which a person is outgoing and seeks stimulation

Question 2

Describe the Big Five model of personality.

Answer 2

Openness– appreciation for art, adventure, unusual ideas, imagination
Conscientiousness– tendency to show self-discipline, planned rather than spontaneous
Extraversion– energy, positive emotions, and tendency to seek stimulation and company of others
Agreeableness– tendency to be compassionate and cooperate
Neuroticism– tendency to experience negative emotions

Question 3

Define locus of control.

Answer 3

An expectancy concerning the degree of personal control we have in our life (this can be internal or external)

Question 4

Define IQ – how is it calculated?

Answer 4

Intelligence quotient

IQ = (mental age/chronological age) x 100 An IQ of 100 is average

Question 5

What are the limitations of IQ?

Answer 5

It averages all the domains of intelligence and doesn’t consider them individually

Question 6

What are the two different types of intelligence?

Answer 6

Crystallised Intelligence – the ability to apply previously acquired knowledge to current problems

Fluid Intelligence – the ability to deal with novel problem-solving situations for which personal experience doesn’t provide a solution

Question 7

How do these types of intelligence change with age?

Answer 7

Crystallised – increases with age plateaus at middle age

Fluid – shows a pattern of decline from about 20s

Question 8

Describe the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to IQ.

Answer 8

Genetic factors – ½ to 2/3 of variation in IQ

Environmental factors – 1/3 to ½ of variation in IQ

Question 9

Describe Baron Cohen’s empathising/systematising model.

Answer 9

Empathising – ability to infer the thoughts and feelings of others and have an appropriate reaction

Systematising – the drive to analyse and construct any kind of system
i.e. identifying the rules that govern the system in order to predict howthe system will behave

Question 10

What are the differences between males and females with regards to this model?

Answer 10

Females – more empathising, less systematising

Males – more systematising, less empathising

Question 11

What type of brain are people with Autism/Aspergus thought to have?

Answer 11

They are thought to have an ‘extreme male brain’

Lots of systematising