PSYC 4620 1st Edition Lecture 18 Outline of Last Lecture I. Assessment of Trait TheoryII. Evaluation of Trait ApproachIII. Type A and B PersonalitiesIV. Hostility and HealthOutline of Current Lecture V. Eysenck’s Theory of PersonalityVI. SupertraitsVII. Biological Basis of PersonalityVIII. TemperamentCurrent LectureChapter 9- The Biological ApproachTheory: Eysenck, Temperament and Evolutionary PsychRise of Behaviorism- Now: children have personalities like their parents- Early 20th centuryo Tabula rasa: children are a blank slate Parenting styles and environmental experiences develop personality Every child has an equal likelihood of having any personality type- Decline of behaviorism- Combination of experiences of biologyHans Eysenck’s Theory of Personality- Structure of personalityo Factor analysis used to find supertraitso Supertraits: personality types Extraversion-introversion Neuroticism PsychoticismThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.o All personality traits can fall under these 3 supertrait continuumsFigure 9.1- Specific response levelo The specific behavioro Ex: Observe someone laughing and having fun with friends- Habitual response levelo Pattern emergeso Ex: Observe someone laughing and having fun with friends over many evenings- Trait levelo Multiple contextso Ex: General sociability: we see the person not only with friends, but meeting withcolleagues for lunch, going to school club meetings- Supertrait levelo Larger dimension of personalityo Ex: Falls under extroversion  A bunch of traits come together to form a larger part of personalityThe Supertraits- Extraversion-Introversiono Spectrum someone in betweeno Eysenck says you’re either one or the othero Extrovert Outgoingo Introvert Reserved, quiet- Neuroticismo Tendency to respond emotionallyo Major emotional reaction to a minor frustration (similar to Big 5)o Less likely to fly off the handle, more stableo More emotionally reactive- Psychoticism (added later)o High: egocentric, lacking in concern for otherso Low: most people, having empathy, respect for rightsA Biological Basis for Personality- Eysenck: Individual differences are based in biologyo Consistency E/I stable over time Extroverts as children=extroverts as adults Personality traits are biologicalo Three dimensions of personality across cultures and methodso Genetics plays an important role on where you’re placed on the dimensionsAccording to Eysenck- 2/3 of where personality comes from is biology- Environment plays a role, but biology plays more of a role- Even though the environment plays a role, biology sets a limit on how much environment can change thingsEvidence for Biological Basis- Physiological differenceso Sensitivity to stimulationo Sensitivity to reinforcementSensitivity to Stimulation- Eysenck originally thought extroverts would have a lower level of cerebral cortex arousalo No evidence base- Difference in sensitivity to stimulationo Introverts more sensitive to environmental, emotional stimulation than extrovertso Introverts are more reactiveo So extroverts seek out more stimulationSensitivity to Reinforcement- Reinforcement Sensitivity Theoryo Each brain has a BAS and BIS BAS: Behavioral Approach System BIS: Behavioral Inhibition System- (These are hypothetical systems)o Individuals differ in these two systemso Difference in strength of two systems Individual differences stable over time (from childhood to adulthood)o High BAS  Motivated to seek out and achieve pleasurable goals Experience more anger and frustration when they fail to reach those goalso High BIS More apprehensive, wary, retreat Higher inhibitiono These systems influence what we’re motivated to seek out- Systems related to E/I and neuroticismo BAS and E/I (higher BAS=Extrovert)o High BIS= neuroticism- Scores similar but correlation is no perfecto Related but not the sameTemperament- Temperament: general behavioral dispositiono General patterns of behavior and moodo Can develop into personality traitso Interplay between genetics and environmentTemperament and Personality- Disagreements on how to classify temperament, how many- Example of one modelo 3 dimensions of temperaments Emotionality: intensity Activity: energy Sociability: interactionWhere Does Temperament Come From?- Largely inherited- Gender differenceso Girls: effortful control temperament Tend to be able to focus attention and exercise control over impulse urgeso Boys: Surgency temperament High level of activity and