Lecture 6 Flashcards
What are traits?
An enduring characteristic of a person’s behaviour, thinking and feeling
What are types?
A class of individuals with common characteristic of patterns of characteristic
According to Hypocrates and Galen, what are the four types of personalities?
- sanguine (blood) - warm-hearted & optimistic
- melacholic (black bile) - sad, depressed, anxious
- chloric (yellow bile) - quick-tempered, angry, assertive
- phlegmatic (phlem) - slow, lethargic, calm
What Eyseneck’s two main points on personality?1
- central nervous system activity is the source of personality functioning
- people can be reliably distinguished between introverts and extroverts
Describe some traits of an extrovert
Stimulus hungry, sociable, outgoing, interactive, expressive
Describe some traits of an introvert
private, reclusive, reserved, inward, sensitive, exhausted by groups
Describe neuroticism and normality
neuroticism - more emotionally reactive - tense, moody, anxious
normality - less emotionally reactive (but still has emotions)
What are three Self-report test items?
- introversion/extraversion
- neuroticism/normality
- psychoticism (anti-social trait)
Describe psychoticism
Aggressive, cold, egocentric, unempathetic, impersonal, tough-minded - predisposition to psychosis
What are E, N and P?
Extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism
Criminal personality has high what?
high E, N and P
Creative people score higher on?
P
Heart disease personality has high?
Higher P & N
According to Eyseneck what characterises chloric (bad tempered)?
High extroversion, high neuroticism
According to Eyseneck what characterises sanguine (cheerful)?
High extroversion, more emotionally stable
According to Eyseneck what characterises Melancholic (gloomy)?
High introversion, high neuroticism
According to Eyseneck what characterises phlegm (unemotional, indifferent)?
High introversion, more emotionally stable
What is the ARAS system?
Ascending Reticular Activation System - cortical excitation and inhibition
What does high ARAS arousal implicate?
introversion
What does low ARAS arousal implicate?
extraversion
What is the biological basis of introversion/extraversion?
ARAS system
What is the biological basis for neuroticism/normality?
Visceral (VB) brain system
What does the VB brain system include and do?
Hypothalamus and limbic system - mediates emotional reactivity
What does high VB activation implicate?
Neuroticism
What does low VB activation implicate?
Normality
What have twin studies found about E+N?
50% genetic
What are two criticisms of Eyseneck’s theory?
- situationism
2. is personality really stable?
