Psychological explanations - Eyesenck's theory Flashcards
What is Extraversion?
Refers to a biological need individuals have for high or low levels of environmental stimulation
What is Neuroticism?
Refers to the stability of personalty and relates to how table a person’s nervous system is.
What did Eyesenck propose?
Personality is biologically based and that someone’s personality and behaviour could be represented along two dimensions = introversion/extraversion and neuroticism/stability.
He later added a third dimension - psychoticism
What are examples of the three types of traits?
Psychoticism = agressive, assertive, egocentric, unsympathetic
Neuroticism = anxious, depressed, moody, obsessive
Extraversion = sociable, irresponsible, active, dominant
Explain Eyesenck’s theory about the biological basis of personality
Extraverts = underactive nervous system, so they seek excitement and engage in risk taking behaviours
Neurotic individuals = tend to be nervous, jumpy and over anxious, and their general instability means their behaviour is difficult to predict
Psychotic individuals = higher levels of testosterone, they are cold, unemotional and prone to aggression
What does Eyesenck’s theory predict based off of his model?
People who have high N,P,E will run a higher risk of offending, principally because it is difficult for them to learn to control their immature impulses.
What did Eyesenck believe about people with high E and N scores?
Had nervous systems that made them difficult to condition. As a result they would not learn easily to respond to antisocial impulses with anxiety. Consequently, they would be more likely to act antisocially in situations where the opportunity presents itself.
