Week 4 Flashcards
Eysenck’s theory of I & E
Eysenck theorised that I & E we’re drives of personality ans bioligically based.
I = higher testing levels of cortical arousal - less need for stimulation, risk of being over stimulated in social situations.
E = lower cortical arousal. Pleasure in social settings.
What did Eysenck say N did to I & E
N has a biological basis and would make a person more emotionally sensitive.
When a person was higher in N they would be “more of what they are” ie. more I or more E
Would a person with high I need more or less of a depressant drug to feel the effects?
More - higher cortical arousal would require more of a depressant drug to feel the effects
What is the function approach to understanding personality?
Biological systems - nervous system/endocrine system and its effect on behaviour (how the body functions to create personality)
BAS??
Behavioural activation system
“Go” get that cheese system.
Reward-seeking.
Does the BAS create motives to seek pleasure/reward when not exposed to a stimuli?
No, it is a reactionary system to external stimuli. Not involved in creating incentive.
What emotions are been linked to the BAS?
Positive emotions:
Hope, eagerness and excitement.
Related to anticipation of a reward
Where is the BAS located?
Left prefrontal cortex
What does someone with a higher base level of BAS do when they see a happy film?
Have a positive response. Higher BAS levels related to positive emotion.
Which biobehavioural system had effortful control been linked to?
BAS - higher sense of reward, more willing to endure hardship to reach reward.
Which area of the brain is larger in Extraverts?
Medial Orbitofrontal Cortex.
Associated with approach reward
What happens when you’re compelled towards a reward, but it is thwarted?
Negative emotions - frustration anger.
BAS associated with negative emotions when rewards are not met.
Are there any differences in BAS function within relationships?
Yes, there have been studies of couples which have shown higher sensitivity to reward within relationships
What neurotransmitter is associated with reward?
Dopamine
How does dopamine affect learning?
Dopamine responds to situations that are worse and better than expected. Levels are not changed when the expected happens.
This creates a reward system for novel events and may be important in the motivation to learn.
Unsure if dopamine assists with performance.
What are the two approach systems discussed in the text?
BAS - left prefrontal cortex
Dopamine system
What is the avoidance or withdrawal system sensitive to?
Cues of punishment and danger
What feelings are related to the avoidance and withdrawal system?
Anxiety, fear, guilt and revolution
What area of the brain is activated in avoidance withdrawal system
Right prefrontal cortex
Davidson 1997
That anxiety is related to an avoidance system in the right prefrontal cortex
What learning style is associated with avoidance withdrawal system
Negative reinforcement/punishment - You little worm!!! Do another push up!!
Do the BAS and avoidance/withdrawal system work independently? And does having a higher resting score in one mean having a lower resting score in the other?
Yes - they work independently.
No - you can have any combination of high/low resting scores in either system creating many variation of reward/punishment approach/avoid behaviour
GABA
gamma aminobutyric acid
GABA associated with which disorder ?
Anxiety, particularly panic disorders
Apart from GABA what neurotransmitter is linked with anxiety?
Norepinephrine
What biobehavioral system and neurotransmitters are associated with NA/N
Avoidance/withdrawal system (Right PFC)
GABA
norepinephrine
What biobehavioral system and neurotransmitter is associated with PA/E
BAS left PRC
Dopamine
Does BAS explain social approach?
There are multiple theories about the function of BAS. Some do not include social approach and believe there is a subsystem in play. See table p91
What is the difference between approach and sociability
Approach relates to sensitivity to reward in general (social or non-social stimuli)
Sociability relates only to engaging socially
IUSS
Impulsive Unsocialised Sensation Seeking
Zuckerman
What is the female Fight or flight and why is it important?
Tend and befriend - parenting responsibilities mean there is an evolutionary benefit to social cohesion and not fleeing or fighting
Apart from mother-child bonding, what is oxytocin important for.
Social bonding, especially amongst women
What may happen to people with high levels of sensation seeking in undemanding situations
They may be antisocial
