Week 6 - Dispositional Approach [Costa + Mcrae]

Question 1

Describe Traits

Answer 1

Descriptive factors that influence ones behaviour - lead to five factor model

Question 2

Name the features and explain the Five Factor Model

Answer 2

OPENNESS (to new experiences) -
CONSCIENTIOUS - hardworking / responsible
EXTROVERSION- socialable , warmth
AGREEABLENESS - conformity , sympathetic
NEUROCENTRISM- worrying , anxiety

-measured on a continuum

Question 3

Describe the Fundamental Lexical (Lang.) Hypothesis

Answer 3

Useful prediction for behaviour , Goldberg

Question 4

What is the measurement of the 5 factors of personality ?

Answer 4

NEO-PI-R
Subdivided into 6 more facets (specific smaller traits making up larger ones)

Question 5

Evaluation of NEO-PI-R as a measurement of the 5 factor model

Answer 5

+ descriptive in a small num of terms
- New development
- Not holistic
- No explanation of what influences traits / where they come from

Question 6

Explain Eyesneck Biological (ARAS )

Answer 6

Ascending Recticular Activating System

Whether intra/extroversion is due to a balance of excitation and inhibition of processes in CNS

Different circuits of neurons are responsible for control

Main function is alertness / arousal (enhancing / dampning)

Question 7

Explain how cortisol arousal leads to personality types

Answer 7

Extroverts = chronically under aroused, seek for more intense stimulation to relieve boredom (strong NS biased towards inhibitions)

Introverts = weaker NS, more sensitive to stimuli reaching cortex

Question 8

Behavioural and Physiological studies as evidence for cortical arousal determining personality

Answer 8

• Vigilance tasks : introverts perform better, don’t get bored
• In life extroverts change looking for new stimulation
• Extroverts dislike sensory deprivation , introverts like this
• optimium level is lower for introverts ; shown through same stimulation but I become more aroused
• Introverts are conditioned easier

Question 9

Describe the Biological basis for personality

Answer 9

Reactivity of ANS
over activity = extroverted

Androgen / hormones correlate with psychoticism

Question 10

Describe the Links between Genetics and Personality

Answer 10

[Eysenck] : genetic accounts for 56% to 72% of variation

[Bouchard et al] : twin studies - Mz apart are as similar as Mz together , similar with adopted children

40% differences = inheritance but degree varies

Age, environment play a role - 35% non shared environment , error 20% and genetic 40%