Individual differences explanation - Personality

Question 1

Eysencks theory of personality

Answer 1

3 dimensions related to personality upon which personality can be measured

Question 2

3 dimensions

Answer 2

1. extraversion/introversion
2. neuroticism/stability
3. psychoticism/normality

Question 3

Extraversion/introversion

Answer 3

extraverts are social, lively and optimistic while introverts are more reserved and quiet

Question 4

Neuroticism/stability

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Psychoticism/normality

Answer 5

those high on psychoticism scale are impulsive impatient aggressive and creative

Question 6

linking these traits to addiction

Answer 6

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

Question 7

EPQ questionaire

Answer 7

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

Question 8

psychoticism trait

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

De Wit 2009

Answer 9

a review of studies found that implusivness was both cause and effect of drug abuse (De Wit)

Question 10

Dalley et al 2007

Answer 10

found that impulsive rats increased cocaine intake more than low impulsivity rats

Question 11

laura stevens et al 2014

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Neuroticism and self medication

Answer 12

neurotic individuals may be using addiction as a way of self medication to deal with stress or worry

Question 13

Rajita sinha 2001

Answer 13

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

Question 14

another characteristic of neurotics

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Evaluation of Personality

Answer 15

1. difficulty establishing cause and effect
2. role of personality depends on the addictive behaviour
3. the myth of the addictive personality
4. the link to biological processes

Question 16

difficulty establishing cause and effect relationship

Answer 16

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

Question 17

role of personality depends on the addictive behaviour

Answer 17

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

Question 18

the myth of the addictive personality

Answer 18

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

Question 19

the link to biological processes

Answer 19

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