Individual differences explanation - Personality Flashcards
Eysencks theory of personality
3 dimensions related to personality upon which personality can be measured
3 dimensions
- extraversion/introversion
- neuroticism/stability
- psychoticism/normality
Extraversion/introversion
extraverts are social, lively and optimistic while introverts are more reserved and quiet
Neuroticism/stability
individuals high in neuroticism have high levels of anxiety and can be moody and irritable. Those high in stability are more controlled and even tempered
Psychoticism/normality
those high on psychoticism scale are impulsive impatient aggressive and creative
linking these traits to addiction
eysenk suggested a resource model of addiction, whereby the addiction develops because it fulfils a need relating to the individuals personality profile in particular he highlighted important role of dimensions of psychoticism and neuroticism
EPQ questionaire
these studies compare addicts with a control group on the three dimensions and also compare the two groups on their lie score (a measure of social conformity)
EG. Micheal Gossop and Hans Eysenck researched over 200 drug addicts, and found that addicts had high P and N scores but lower E and L scores than control group
psychoticism trait
those high in psychoticism have impulsivity. addicts will act impulsively without thinking through the consequence eg smoking wont do harm now so no harm to indulge.
De Wit 2009
a review of studies found that implusivness was both cause and effect of drug abuse (De Wit)
Dalley et al 2007
found that impulsive rats increased cocaine intake more than low impulsivity rats
laura stevens et al 2014
found that impulsive individuals were less successful in treatment programmes as they were more likely to drop out and less likely to achieve and maintain abstinence
Neuroticism and self medication
neurotic individuals may be using addiction as a way of self medication to deal with stress or worry
Rajita sinha 2001
reviewed research into this area and highlighted role that stress plays in initiation of addiction but also in risk of relapse when and individual is trying to abstain
another characteristic of neurotics
low self esteem
Roy baumeister suggest that low self esteem may lead people to act in a manner that is self defeating in order to escape self awareness
This means they are using addiction as a way of avoiding their negative feelings about themselves
Evaluation of Personality
- difficulty establishing cause and effect
- role of personality depends on the addictive behaviour
- the myth of the addictive personality
- the link to biological processes
difficulty establishing cause and effect relationship
mainly correlational
the personality tests are given once the individual has already developed addiction therefore cause and effect cant be established
the addiction may have made them stressed not the other way round
Prospective studies supports idea addictive personality causing addictive behaviours
Guangheng Dhong et al carried out a study on chinese uni students. they were given EPQ just after entering uni and 2 years later their addiction to internet was assesed. researchers found higher N and P linked to addiction and prospec design suggests it was cause rather than effect
role of personality depends on the addictive behaviour
Ruth McNamara et al found in rats implusivity meant animals were more likely to self administer cocaine but not heroin
Paul Rozin and Caryn Stoess looked at individuals tendency to become addicted to range of different activities and could not find common pattern. So type of personality involved might depend on the specific addictive behaviour being investigated
the myth of the addictive personality
John kerr refers to idea of an addictive personality as one of the myths of addiction and suggests that there are so many traits listed that these would be typical of most individuals to some degree.
Therefire may not be appropraite to refer to an addictive personality as if it were a simple set of traits that make someone more prone to addiction. The picture in reality may be more complex
the link to biological processes
personality may not be suffcient explanation to personality characteristics such as dopamine
Joshua buckholtz et al looked at levels of impulsivity in non addicted individuals and then recorded what happened in their brains when given amphetamines.
Those with higher implusivity showed greater dopamine release in response to drug as well as lower receptivity
Therefore impulsive people may more likely to become addicted because they get a greater dopamine high from substances like amphetamines
