Intro to personality and bio approaches Flashcards

1
Q

define personality

A

An individual’s unique and relatively consistent pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving

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2
Q

another term for personality

A

Individual differences

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3
Q

Name the approaches to personality

A

Biological
Behavioural
Social
Humanistic
Psychoanalytic
Trait theory

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4
Q

Name Eysenck 2 primary personality traits

A

extraversion/introversion
neuroticism

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5
Q

typical extraverts

A

outgoing, impulsive and sociable

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6
Q

typical introverts

A

quiet, reserved and distant

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7
Q

high neuroticism

A

unstable or highly emotional, easily upset and angered

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8
Q

low neuroticism

A

less prone to mood wings

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9
Q

evidence of biology influencing personality

A

consistency of extraversion and introversion over time
similar personality versions in cross cultural studies
genetics playing vital role

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10
Q

Five factor model personality dimensions

A
  • Openness
    • Conscientiousness
    • Extraversion
    • Agreeableness
    • Neuroticism
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11
Q

explain twins and personalities

A

Fraternal twins ≈50% shared genetics
Dissimilar personalities

Identical twins = 100% shared genetics
Similar personalities

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12
Q

example of personality trait that may have more genetic influence

A

neuroticism

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13
Q

define genotype

A
  • Genetic makeup of an individual
  • Contained in 23 pairs of chromosomes
    Made up of pairs of alleles (e.g., gene variants) provided by parents
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14
Q

define epigenetics

A
  • Influence of environment on gene expression
    Alters structure of DNA
    interactions between genes
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15
Q

phenotype

A
  • Observable expression of genetics
    E.g., height, eye colour, blood type, personality
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16
Q

Critique of Eysenck (Jeffrey Alan Gray)

A
  • Introverts and extraverts differ in how they respond to emotional stimuli
    Introverts are quickly aroused when exposed to external stimulation
17
Q

What is reinforcement sensitivity theory

A

The human brain has 2 behavioural systems underlying individual differences in sensitivity to reward, punishment, and motivation

18
Q

Behavioural approach system (BAS)

A

Seek out impulsive, rewarding behaviour
Engage in emotionally intense situations

19
Q

Behavioural inhibition system (BIS)- (withdrawal motivation)

A

Avoid emotionally intense situations
Anxiety

20
Q

What brain area is measured for personality

A

frontal lobe

21
Q

what happened to Phineas gage

A

Railroad foreman- Explosion sent iron rod through skull
Damaged frontal lobe of brain -Survived
Changes in personality

22
Q

what changes in personality did Phineas Gage experience

A
  • Planning behaviour
    • Emotional control
    • Behavioural inhibition
23
Q

explain an EEG

A

Measures electrical activity of brain’s surface
Brain activity useful in identifying personality

24
Q

benefits of EEG

A

No social desirability
Non-invasive

25
Q

describe differences in sensitivity related to reinforcement sensitivity

A

Higher activation in left = Higher BAS
Higher activation in right = Higher BIS

26
Q

what is left frontal cortex associated with

A

Depression (inactivation)
Bipolar (sporadic activation)

27
Q

what is right frontal cortex related to

A

Anxiety disorders (activation)

28
Q

what is the
Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)

A
  • Essential part of personality
  • Processes emotional information
  • Decision making
    Assigns value to decisions e.g. this will/ won’t work
29
Q

strengths of biological approach to personality

A

Provides genetic account as source of individual variability
Empirically supported neural indicators of personality

30
Q

limitations of biological approach to personality

A

Assumption that biology is primary driver of personality

31
Q
A