Lecture 14: Personality

Question 1

Psychologists measure personality in many ways, one common example:

Answer 1

places people on an extrovert / introvert continuum

• 10 being introvert
• 0 being extrovert

Question 2

Extroverts:

Answer 2

• external focus
• energy gained from stimulation
• think broadly

Question 3

Introverts:

Answer 3

• internal focus
• energy gained from quiet contemplation
• introverts think deeply

Question 4

Whether you are an extrovert or introvert determined by:

Answer 4

• differences in the brain (brain chemistry)
• introvert have longer acetylcholine pathway
• extrovert have shorter dopamine pathway

Question 5

Stanley Milgram (1960’s) :

Answer 5

• experiments of obedience
• people genuinely believed they were giving people electric shocks that were damaging/ lethal but continued as a man in white coat told them to

Question 6

Personality axed used by psychologists:

Answer 6

• extroversion
• dominance
• dependability
• Emotional stability
• Agreeableness
• Openness

Question 7

Definition of personality as used by those studying animal behaviour and interested in evolution:

Answer 7

Non-random, individual behavioural specialisations.

Alternative terms: ‘behavioural syndromes’, ‘coping styles’, ‘axes’, ‘constructs’…

Question 8

Personality is affected by

Answer 8

both environmental + genetic factors

nature vs nurture

Question 9

Environmental affects on personality

Answer 9

• birth order

- social contact

Question 10

Birth Order:

Answer 10

controversial: 21/23 first astronauts into space were first borns
- First-borns – conscientious, responsible, leaders, seek approval from authority?
- Last-borns – outgoing, rebellious, social, spoiled? (scientific revolutionaries?)

Question 11

Social contact:

Answer 11

Harry Harlow 1940’s & 50s investigated & showed that baby monkeys needed maternal attention to develop normally

• John Bowleys ‘attachment theory’
• likely to be same for humans: Romanian orphans kept in poor conditions had various problems when older

Question 12

sex differences in personality come from

Answer 12

sex differences in the brain (difference in neural anatomy) some regions differ in size between males and females and may have functional adaptations + hormones

Question 13

Genetic factors can be studied using

Answer 13

twins, although there may be subtle differences in even monozygotic twins due to differences in uterine environment. If personality is genetically determined then monozygotic twins should have perfect correlation in peronsality score. whether or not they were reared together. Dizygotic should = 0.5 & unrelated should = 0. ISNT THE CASE, ISNT COMPLETE MATCH = ENVIRONMENT

Question 14

INAH-3 (in the hypothalamus) controls sexual behaviour and is

Answer 14

2-3 times greater in males

Question 15

SG (in prefrontal cortex) is associated with social cognition

Answer 15

and is 10% greater in females

Question 16

Hippocampus:

Answer 16

tend to be larger in males as Males tend to defend larger territories. NOT as sex based different, just depends on how selection has operated

Question 17

hippocampus in brown headed cow-bird

Answer 17

-females have larger hippocampus as they’re under stronger selection pressure to remember their way round environment because of breed parasitic lifestyle. Size depends on depends on ecology and behaviour

Question 18

Testing for intelligence in chickens

Answer 18

• early studies tested things like colour, counting etc.
• where give males task to determine which females are fertile & which are infertile and they show fantastic powers of discrimination.

Tests must reflect what is likely to be important

Question 19

Sapolsky’s work shows:

Answer 19

the link between personality, social status and physiological stress

Question 20

Personality in great tits:

Answer 20

FAST: bold, aggressive, unphased by novel challenges & more competitive and survive better when resources are scarce

SLOW: shy, reserved, cautious about novel challenges & do better when resources are abundant

Selection fluctuates from year to year as resource availability varies

Question 21

Organisms that are liked to be studied for personality

Answer 21

chimps, apes, baboons