Slide 1ObjectivesSlide 3Slide 4Personality ChangeSlide 6Slide 7Personality ChangeRecap: 7 Principles of Personality Continuity and ChangeRecap: 7 Principles of Personality Continuity and ChangeSlide 11Slide 12Slide 13Slide 14Slide 15Two Aspects of the Brain That Can Be Examined with TechnologyEnded here 3/2/16© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.The Personality PuzzleSixth Editionby David C. Funder Psychology of PersonalityLecture 12: 3/2/16Finish: Personality Stability and ChangeIntro to Biological Approaches to PersonalityStephanie Federspiel, Ph.D.1Objectives•Finish discussion of intentional personality change. •Discuss/recap 7 principles of personality development.•Intro to biology of personality and levels of explanation.An Experiment:Adolescents Learn about the Brain(vs. Study Skills training)•The brain is like a muscle—it develops with use!•New neurons + connections as you learn! Improved grades + “motivation” (persistence, effort)An Experiment:College students Learn about the Brain(vs. other topics)•The brain develops with use + challenge. + Write a letter to struggling younger student. ↑ Valuing and Enjoyment ↑ GradesPersonality ChangeAnxiously expecting negative social responses  fragile relationships “see” rejection in ordinary behavior can’t respond well to conflict and rejection ↓ engagement + ↓ performance in school.(e.g,Pietrzak,Downey,&Ayduk,2005).An Experiment:Reinterpreting Feelings of Nonbelonging in College transition1) These feelings are COMMON, temporary, and aren’t necessarily accurate. 2) See survey statistics, others’ stories/messages3) Write a letter to an incoming student  ↑ Challenging courses  ↑ Contact with professors ↑ Persistence/Resilience ↑ Grades (instead of a drop in grades!)Why focus on people’s beliefs, as opposed to their simplepreferences and habits or broad personality traits? Beliefs helps us answer in more precise ways questions like: What personality factors allow people to function well in their lives—that is, to grow and learn, sustain satisfying relationships, achieve well in school and careers, be caring toward others, or recover from setbacks? This is because beliefs can typically be defined very precisely, measured very simply, and altered through interventions to reveal their direct impact. In contrast, broad personality traits can be assessed, but they contain no implications for how you might change them. Beliefs are not necessarily easy to change, but they tell you where to begin.Personality Change•What about experimental evidence for volitional change in personality traits?•A longitudinal study: randomly assignment to change or report (Hudson & Fraley 2015) –Need specific, concrete targets for change to work!–Some traits may be easier to change!!! Evidence that 2 different processes seem to workChange Behaviors  Trait Change (E, A, N)Change self perception  Change behavior (E, C, N)Recap: 7 Principles of Personality Continuity and Change“Personality is characterized by stability over the lifespan, and also by significant change” (p. 250).1. Cumulative continuity (Ind. diffs)2. Corresponsive (Transactions w/environment)3. Maturity (Development) 4. Social investment (Development)Recap: 7 Principles of Personality Continuity and Change5. Role Continuity (Stability/Change)6. Identity development (Stability/Change)7. Plasticity (Change)3 Different Levels of explanation are common in theories and research questions:1) (Just) Descriptions? (What?)document existence of variations, associations 2) Mechanisms (How?) (biological, psychological, social/learning etc.)3) “Ultimate” (Why?) adaptive significance (survival, reproduction)?The Adolescent Brain•VIDEO SAVED FOR NEXT TIME!•Why does personality take a turn for the worse in adolescence?12Example: Self-regulation Controlling one’s ownemotions, behaviorthoughts/attention in an appropriate manner.  Relationships  Learning Work success Health Finances(Caspi et al., 1987; Moffit et al., 2011)Willpower to STOP: inhibit GO: activateHow should we explain important differences in thought, feeling, and behavior?Biological Differences (structure/anatomy and functions) Psychological attributes and statesSocial or other contextual influencesThe Marshmallow Test of Self-Regulation(specifically, delay of gratification)1. Biology matters2. Mental processes matter 3. Interpersonal/Social Processes matter, too!Experiments showed that kids will wait much longer if they believe the adult experimenter is predictable/reliable..It’s really a fluffy white cloud. Waiting WILLPay off!Two Aspects of the Brain That Can Be Examined with Technology•Anatomy: functions of parts of the brain•Biochemistry: effects of neurotransmitters and hormones on brain processes•Both are related to personality and behaviorEnded here 3/2/16•We will focus on associations between personality and anatomical or biochemical differences in lecture and the associated research methods. •You should read/review the basics of neural structure/function as covered in the chapter but I won’t cover this in detail in class or on the