Personality (nature vs nurture) Flashcards
What does the role of Nature play in the role of Personality? What theories does it cover?
Nature is innate. Includes;
- behavioural genetics
- biological and physiological models of personality
- evolutionary approaches
What does the role of Nurture play in the role of Personality? What theories does it cover?
Nurture is learnt. Includes;
- Dollar & Miller’s Stimulus Response
- Bandura’s Social Learning Theory
- Rotter’s Locus of Control
What is Behavioural Genetics?
The relationship between genes, behaviour, and the environment.
- Genotype = the genetic make up
- Phenotype = observable characteristics including behaviour
The shared role of genetics and environment in personality.
e.g. aggressiveness = 25% geners, 75% environment
What are the research studies assessing Genetics in Personality?
Plomin (2004)
- states there are three types of studies in assessing genetics = family, twin, adoption
- they don’t look at FULL genetic profile - they look for genetic similarities/differences
Reimann et al (1997)
- worked our the estimation of heritability on the Big 5 in twins
Eaves (1980)
- EPQ
- Extraversion .58
- Neuroticism .44
- Psychoticism .46
What updates were there to Behavioural Genetics?
Maccoby (2000); Plomin (2004)
- heritability is not addictive, it’s interactional between the environment and genetics
Why is this the case?
- conceptions of genetics/personality changed
- there are more types of genetic variance
- there are shared and non-shared environmental influences
- the representation of twin & adoption studies (less able to generalise)
- assortative mating
- advances in genetics
What is Eysenck’s Biological Model?
Eysenck states that there are two neural mechanisms, Exhibitory and Inhibitory, which are mediated by ARAS
The arousal of the mechanisms - information and processing has two circuits
- Reticulo Cortical - incoming arousal
- Reticulo Limbic - emotional arousal
What does the Reticulo Corticol circuit say about personality?
Low arousal = extravert
High arousal = introvert
What does the Reticulo Limbic circuit say about personality?
Low arousal = emotionally stable
High arousal = neurotic
Talk about Extraversion & Arousal in Eysenck’s Biological Model.
What is the evidence for this?
Extraversion = personality traits associated with the Reticulo-Corticol circuit.
- Extraverts have a low ARAS arousal therefore seek external arousal
- Introverts have high ARAS arousal therefore avoid additional stimulation
Evidence;
- through mesaures of Central Nervous System (CNS) and Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
- CNS = measures of brain activity
= alpha waves are higher in Introverts
- ANS = cardiovascular and electromodal measures
= compare baseline and phasic measures
- Zuckerman (1991) states that it is more than ARAS arousal regulators
How was Eysenck’s Biological Model tested?
Geen 1984
- asked participants to choose an optimal level of music while completing a paired association task
- introverts tended to choose a lower level (low additional/external stimulation)
- when they worked at a level chosen by others, they took longer to complete the task
This supports the idea of a preference for certain levels of stimulation.
How did Geen (1984) test nervous system responses?
Geen 1984
- used skin conductance responses (body moisture/sweat) in both Extravert and Introvert response
- SCR at the preferred level of stimulation was the same
= introvert preferred low noise, extravert preferred
high noise level
HOWEVER;
- doesn’t support chronic or underarousal
- doesn’t present response under a wide range of
conditions
What is Eysenck’s revised Biological Model?
Introverts have a lower threshold for stimuli detection, but aren’t chronically over-aroused.
- Introverts have a higher arousal response to moderate stimuli
Learning and Reinforcement - attitudes and interests affect perception
Interests/behaviours/attitudes are not just explained by biological nervous system differences.
How does the Evolutionary approach explain Personality?
Adaption is part of natural selection.
There are three types of adaption;
- Domain specificity
- Functionality
- Numerous
What did Buss (1991) find about Evolutionary Personality Psychology?
Buss (1991) suggests that the evolutionary theory provides framework for explaining personality.
- it explains the major goals
- it describes psychological mechanisms evolved to reach these goals
- it identifies personality differences in the behaviours used to reach the goals
Also; It provides environmental perspectives on the 5 Factor Model. e.g. it can impact on formation of alliances.
What is Co-Operative Behaviour, and how does the Prisoner’s Dilemma explain it?
The Prisoner’s Dilemma;
- two gang members are arrested and then separated into interrogation rooms
- they can’t communicate in any way
- they get the choice to confess (put the blame on the other) or deflect (say nothing)
- there are four outcomes, ranging from if they both confess, they get the most time each, and if they both deflect they get the least time each. however, if one deflects and the other confesses, the one that deflects gets all the time, where the other one gets no time
- they have to consider what the other would say
It is considered and assumed that we are rational agents, and that we only think about ourselves in certain situations.
However, we actually think about what is best for the group, and use Co-Operative behaviour to think out the best outcome.
