Problem 4 -the architect Flashcards
Neurotransmitters influencing behavior - Cloninger’s Theory
Dopamine
Seretonin
norepinephrine/noradrenaline
Dopamine
- response to pleasurable, exciting stimuli
- signals of reward
- high levels of dopamine -> high levels of Novelty Seeking
- novelty seeking -> excitability, impulsiveness, extravagance, disorderliness
- parkinson
- cocain
Seretonin
- inhibits response to harmful, unpleasant stimuli
- high levels of seretonin -> low levels of Harm Avoidance
- harm avoidance -> worry, pessimism, fear, shyness, fatigability
-antidepressants like Prozac increases Seretonin to inhibit the transmission of punishment signals resulting in less negative emotions
Norepinephrine/ noradrenaline
- inhibits response to stimuli that have previously been associated with pleasure
- high levels of Norepinephrine -> low reward dependence
- reward dependence -> sentimentality, warm communication, dependence
Jeffrey Gray’s reinforcement sensitivity theory
- suggested that regions of brain work together as mechanisms that underly personality
- differences among activity of systems -> basis of important personality dimensions
Jeffrey Gray’s 3 systems
1) The behavioral activations system
2) The behavioral inhibition system
3) Flight or fight system
The behavioral activation system
- go system
- regions of brain responsible for receiving signals which indicate that rewards are being expressed
- encourages pursuit of rewards
- people differ in tendency to be impulsive and seek pleasure+ excitement
- similar to Novelty seeking by Cloninger
The behavioral inhibition system
- stop system
- brain areas receiving signals which indicate that punishments are experienced
- similar to Harm avoidance by Cloninger
Flight or fight system
-brain regions responsible for motivating extreme reactions in response to extremely threatening situations
Eysneck’s theory
- proposed a theory involving 2 major dimensions of personality
- later a third dimension was added
- Extraversion
- Neuroticism
- Psychoticism
Extraversion VS Introversion
Eysneck
-the strength of reactions to stimuli depends on the arousability of the brain
Extraverted people -> prefer to experience strong sensations
-enjoy bright colors, loud noises etc
-enjoy meeting and interacting with lots of people
Ascending Reticular Activation System (ARAS)
Eysenck
- Eysenck believed that individual differences in Extraversion were governed by this brain mechanism
- system located in brain stem
- works as filter that regulates amount of stimulation that is admitted to brain from nervous system
Ascending Reticular Actication System (ARAS) - Extraverts
Eysenck
- ARAS admits little stimulation
- making one feel under-aroused
- thus seeking stimulation
- opposite for Introverts
Neuroticism VS. Emotional Stability
Eysenck
- Eysneck believed that if one’s Limbic system is overwhelmed by stressful stimuli -> tends to have a neurotic personality
- neurotic people tend to feel great deal of worry and nervousness in response to problems
Psychoticism
- aggressiveness, manipulation, tough-mindedness, risk taking, irresponsibility, impulsivity
- Eysencl suggested that persons high in Psychoticism -> high levels of hormone testosterone
- > low levels of mono-amine oxidase (MAO)
comparing Gray’s and Eysenck’s dimensions
- Gray’s Behavioral Activation system -> related to Eysenck’s Extraversion
- Behavioral Inhibition system -> Neuroticism
- Fight or Flight system -> Psychoticism
Zuckermanns Model
- he summarized 5 factors believed to represent basic dimensions of personality/temperament
- Activity
- Sociability
- Impulsive sensation seeking
- Aggression
- Neuroticism-Anxiety
- > each dimension is caused by own set of complex interactions among brain structures, neurotransmitters and hormones
Lemon Juice task
- support for Eysencks Theory
- dropping lemon juice on tongues of participants
- measuring amount of salvia produced
- > introverts perceived it more strongly
Hormones influencing personality
Testosteron
Cortisol
Oxytocin
Testosteron
- higher levels -> tend to be more aggressive/violent
- levels can be influenced by prenatally exposure to testosterone
- usually 10x higher in males
- fraternities study
Cortisol
- released by adrenal cortex
- prepares body for action in response to stress
- effects: increase in blood pressure, blood sugar and suppression of immune system
- in some cases, individuals with little cortisol release tend to be somewhat emotionally insensitive (males only)
- neuroticism associated with higher levels of stress hormone
Oxytocin
- produced in Hypothalamus
- released by pituitary gland
- released when giving birth, breastfeeding, orgasm
- associated with emotional bonding (mother and child)
- men also have oxytocin
- students were more trusting and trustworthy -> higher oxytocin levels
trust study - oxytocin
-students who were more trusting in others/more trustworthy -> had higher levels of oxytocin
the four humours and personality
- humours -> fluids in our body
- blood: cheerful temperament
- black bile: depressive temperament
- yellow bile: angry
- Phlegm: calm
-> idea remained until Pavlov suggested 4 kinds of temperament
sheldons 3 body types
-endomorph-> fat, digestive system= cheerfulness, sociability, relaxedness
- ectomorph -> skin and nervous system
- shy, sensitive, intellectual
- mesomorph -> muscles, activity level , dominance , assertiveness (Bestimmtheit), adventurous
- > his findings were biased
oxytocin nasal spray
- oxytocin through nasal spray -> manipulating levels of neuropeptides in brain
- a single dose -> reduces negative reactions to faces that had been paired with electric shocks increases trust
Oxytocin dampens responses in..
- amygdala (which reacts to potential social threats)
- hypothalamus
Rs 53576
- ..53343 -> gang in pech
- > associated with responses to SOCIAL SUPPORT
- A allele (Arschlöcher) -> associated with reduced responsiveness to social support received in anticipation of stress
- > more stressed and thus lower tendency to seek social support
-G allele (Guten) -> less cortisol secretion -> more oxytocin in response to social support -> less stressed and thus higher tendency to seek social support
Rs 2254…
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