Individual differences in biology

Question 1

What is Grays reinforcement theory?

Answer 1

There are differences in the state reactions to appetitive (rewarding) and aversive (dangerous) stimuli. These differences are based on neurological responses. Individuals tendencies to go into these states is consistent over time.

Question 2

Grays reinforcement sensitivity theory: what did being a realist mean to Gray?

Answer 2

A) 1st identifying the fundamental properties of brain-behavioural systems that might involved in the important sources of variation observed in human behaviour.

B) Then relating variations in these systems to known measures of personality.

The assumption is A causes B.

Question 3

What did Gray (1982) originally theorise?

Answer 3

Gray was trying to explain how individuals might be conditioned differently. Individual differences in responses to unconditioned & conditioned stimuli.

Question 4

What did Gray and McNaughton (2000) refocus on for the reinforcement sensitivity theory?

Answer 4

Removes the focus on conditioning to consider responses based on qualities of stimulus.

Question 5

What is the behavioural approach system?

Answer 5

appetite stimuli of all kinds

Question 6

What is Fight/flight/freeze system?

Answer 6

aversive stimuli of all kinds

Question 7

What is the behavioural inhibition system?

Answer 7

unclear stimuli/goal conflict

Question 8

How is fear categorised?

What can oversensitivity to fear lead to?

Answer 8

A momentary reactivity.

Phobic and panic disorder.

Question 9

What is anxiety?

What does this lead to?

Answer 9

Unresolved conflict about whether to approach/avoid things.

Leads to rumination and anxiety disorders e.g., depression.

Question 10

What drugs are not affective for:

a) panic disorder
b) depression
c) phobic reactions

Answer 10

a) Buspirone
b) benzodiazepines
c) SSRIs and MAOIs

Question 11

What systems did Gray focus the reinforcement sensitivity theory on?

Answer 11

Neuroendocrine systems of learning and sensitivity to reinforcement.

Question 12

What do measures of reinforcement sensitivity theory predict?

Answer 12

A wide variety of outcomes.

BUT a lot of everyday findings from RST are based on lexically driven self reports.

Question 13

According to Lewis et al., 2018, what can cortical thickness is the prefrontal cortex & fusiform gyrus be correlated with?

Answer 13

More correlations with conscientiousness.

Question 14

What is a genotype?

Answer 14

The genetic code of a living thing

Question 15

What is a phenotype?

Answer 15

Observable summary factors (genes+environment).

Question 16

What physical change that everybody goes through affects the trajectory of personality development?

Answer 16

Puberty.

Question 17

Personality is consistent behaviour over time or consistent experience of states over time. Give examples of animals who have consistently approach-orientated states can be found in?

Answer 17

- chimpanzees
dogs
-cats
birds
Rhinos
Octopi 
Lemon sharks
old field jumping spiders
mustard leaf beatles
firebugs
giant sea anemones

very different neurologies but all share highly similar monoamine reactivity.

Question 18

How are dogs similar to humans personality wise?

Answer 18

• self-control

- interets

Question 19

The unsolvable task - in regards to sensitivity (dogs): give a brief overview.

1. What was coded
2. What did the dog expect?

Answer 19

1. Impulsive approach (destructive).
   - persistent approach (dedicated-on-taskness)
   - Inhibitory problem solving (observing)
   - Frustration (lack of resolution)
   - Social soliciting (asking for help)
2. The dog expect the reward, but they are not actually able to receive the reward