Individual Differences Explanation 1: Personality Flashcards
What are the 3 dimensions of personality highlighted in Eysenck’s theory of personality? (EPQ)
Extraversion
Neuroticism
Psychoticism
What personality make-up was more common in addicts?
Research tested over 200 addicts and found that addicts had higher Psycoticism and Neuroticism scores than the control group
How could high Psychoticism be linked to impulsivity and addiction?
High psychoticism is often linked to impulsivity. Addicts often act impulsively without thinking about consequences. Could explain initation of addiction as they are more likely to try substences and relapse as they may be more likely to return to the behaviour.
Research - high impulsivity rats were more likely to take coke
Highly impulsive people are more likely to drop out of treatment plans
How could high neuroticism and self medication explain addiction?
Neurotic individuals may use addiction as a way of self medicating the stress and worry they are experincing. Which explains matience of addiction, low self-esteem could also explain matinence as they are trying to avoid negative feelings about themselves.
Research - linked high stress a factor in initatation of addiction and in chance of relapse
What does Eysneck mean referring to extraversion?
Extraverts are social, lively and optimisic whilst introverts are the opposite
What does Eysneck mean referring to Neuroticism?
The opposite to emotional stability, individuals with high neuroticism have high levels of anxiety, low mood and can be irritable, those high in stabilty are more controlled an even tempered
What does Eysneck mean referring to Psychoticism?
The opppstite to normality, those high on the Psychoticism scale are implusive, impatient, agressive but creative
What are the 4 evaulation points for personality as an explanation for addiction?
Difficulty establishing cause and effect
Role of personlity depends on behaviour
The myth of an addictive personality
The link to biological processes
Explain the evaluation point of difficulty establishing cause and effect with personality type and addiction
A large amount of the research is correlational, meaning that personality type is measured after an addiction is developed. We dont know if psychoticism or neuroticism is increased by the addiction. So a reliable cause or effect can be drawn
Explain the evaluation point of the role of personality depends on the addictive behaviour
Research has shown that impulsive rats were more likely to self-administer cocaine but not heroin. Other research has studied a range of different activities that people get addicted to and couldnt find a common link. This suggests that personality type may depend on the specific addiction
Explain the evaluation point of the myth of the addictive personality?
There has been numerous traits that have been linked to addiction, which make it very hard to make up a defenition for an addictive personality. (E.g Eysenck also found high N and P scores in criminals), research refers to an ‘addictive personality’ as a ‘myth of addiction’
Evaluate the link to biological processes for personality type?
Ignoring biological factors such as dopamine’s link to addiction
