Hans J. Eysenck
1916 - 1997
Personality
• More or less stable and enduring organization of a
person’s character, temperament, intellect, and
physique, which determines his unique adjustment
to the environment
Theory
•
•
Personality is mostly biological but can be influenced by environment
Biological view validated by:
– The same three personality orientations are found universally regardless of
social and cultural factors
– These traits show stability within individuals over long periods of time in
the face of differing experiences
– Evidence supported by twin studies
Theory
• Personality results from levels of excitation, arousal and
inhibition of an individual’s nervous system.
– Hereditary in nature
– Involves ARAS and Limbic Systems (visceral brain)
Theory
• Based on three dimensions (Types or Superfactors):
– Extraversion / Introversion
– Neuroticism / Stability
– Psychoticism / Superego
Extraversion / Introversion
• Extraverts
– Have a “strong nervous system”
– Have a higher sensory threshold (although lower sedative
threshold)
– Need and actively seek excitement and stimulation
– Can tolerate relatively intense stimuli w/o being overwhelmed
Extraversion / Introversion
• Introverts
–
–
–
–
Have a “weak nervous system”
Low sensory threshold (higher sedative threshold)
Shy away from excitement and stimulation
Quickly overwhelmed by intense stimuli
Neuroticism / Stability
•
•
•
•
Greater brain activity shown in limbic (visceral brain) area (emotion) and in
sympathetic nervous system.
React emotionally to things others consider insignificant (overreactive
autonomic nervous systems)
Not necessarily equated with debilitating psychological symptoms
– Held to diathesis-stress model of mental illness
Genetically predisposed toward neuroticism or emotional stability
UNSTABLE
Moody
Anxious
Rigid
Sober
Pessimistic
Reserved
Unsociable
Quiet
melancholic
INTROVERTED
phlegmatic
Passive
Careful
Thoughtful
Peaceful
Controlled
Reliable
Even-tempered
Calm
Touchy
Restless
Aggressive
Excitable
Changeable
Impulsive
Optimistic
Active
choleric
EXTRAVERTED
sanguine
Sociable
Outgoing
Talkative
Responsive
Easygoing
Lively
Carefree
Leadership
STABLE
Psychoticism / Superego Control
• Does not necessarily refer to psychotic disorders
• Characterized by degree of impulsivity and emotional detachment
from others.
• High score more aggressive, antisocial, cold and egocentric,
nonconforming, impulsive, and hostile
• Low score are more altruistic, highly socialized, caring, empathetic,
cooperative, conforming, and conventional
• Higher the score the lower the stress needed to push toward psychotic
behavior
Psychoticism / Superego
•
•
•
•
Also includes creativity and genius
Males more than females (related to maleness)
High genetic component but less than extraversion and neuroticism
Eventually determined that criminals score high on all three
dimensions.
Types
Extraversion
Traits
Assertive
Habitual
Response
Expresses
Needs
Habitual
response
Considerate
Traits
Sociable
Habitual
response
Habitual
response
Smiles at
eveyone
Shakes
everyone's
hand
Specific Response Level
Traits
Active
Habitual
response
Parties
Habitual
response
Energetic
in
everything
Theory
• Hierarchy of Behavior Organization
– 1rst level: types or superfactors
• Made up of several interrelated traits
– 2nd level: traits
• “important, semi-permanent personality dispositions”
• “defined in terms of significant intercorrelations between different habitual
behaviors”
– 3rd level: habitual responses
• Behaviors or thoughts that recur under similar conditions
– 4th level: specific acts and cognitions
• Individual behaviors or thoughts that may or may not be characteristic of a
person
The Big 5
•
•
•
•
•
Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Neuroticism
The Big 5
•
There is considerable empirical support for Personality Disorders being understood as
maladaptive variants of the Big 5. The first four in particular define the domains of
impairment used to diagnose personality and mental disorders.
– Extraversion & Agreeableness
• Two largest domains account largely for all manner of interpersonal
relatedness
– Conscientiousness
• Concerns control and regulation of behavior
– Neuroticism
• Primarily important to the fields of clinical psych and psychiatry
– Openness
• Primarily deals with culture or society’s interest in creativity, intellect,
imagination, and conventionality. There are aspects of openness in PDs as
well.