Week 2 dominant theories (biological and trait)

Question 1

Describe Grays Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory

Answer 1

Suggests that two biological systems predict the way people behave and respond to particular situations.
1. Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS)
- Responsible for detecting/responding
to potential threats
- Mediated by the frontal lobe & limbic
system. Linked to neuroticism
2. Behavioural Activation System (BAS)
- Responsible for detecting/responding
to potential rewards
- Mediated by the basal ganglia which
can disinhibit other structures. Linked
to extraversion

Question 2

Describe the diathesis-stress model and its relevance to personality psychology

Answer 2

Suggests an interplay between pre-existing vulnerabilities (diatheses) and stressful life events (stressors) can lead to the onset of psychological disorders or certain personality traits.

Question 2

How do twin studies explain genetic contributions to personality?

Answer 2

Helps researchers disentagle the influence of genetics and enviroment on an individual’s characteristics.
If identical twins are more similar on a particular personality trait than fraternal twins, it suggests a strong genetic influence.
If both types of twins are similiarly similar in a trait, it indicates that enviromental factors play a significant role.

Question 2

How do adoption studies explain genetic contributions to personality?

Answer 2

Helps researchers disentagle the influence of genetics and enviroment on an individual’s characteristics.
If adopted chlidren are more similar to their biological parents personality traits = genetic influece.
More similar to their adoptive parents = enviromental influence

Question 3

Personality has a heritability rate of ___% in monozygotic twins and ___% in dizygotic twins:

Answer 3

50% in monozgotic twins and 30% in dizygotic twins

Question 4

What is epigeetics?

Answer 4

Epigenetics is the influence of which genes are switched on and off. Whewn genes are bundled tightly tigether by histones, they are harder to read = switched off.
When they are loosly bundled, DNA is easier to read = switched on and will be expressed.

Question 5

Describe the enviromental influences of epigenetics

Answer 5

Factors such as diet, exerise, level of life stress can triggler chemical tags to tighten or loosen histones, making DNA accessilble or inaccessible.
DNA sequences stau the same, however the switching on and off may change.

Question 6

Describe the generational effects of epigenetics

Answer 6

Chemical tags are passed onto the next generation.
Epigenetic changes to personality may occour due to a traumatic event, this may create more aggressive/worried ect. expressive personality and may impact subsequent generations well after the trauma has occoured.

Question 7

What is the distinction between traits and types

Answer 7

Traits are consistent styles of emotion or behaviour displayed over a variety of contexts. A personality type is the clustering of many different traits. Types are categories not continuums.