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 reticular activating system and limbic systems

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) More easily aroused and autonomically reactive 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. Thought neuroticism was related to lability (changeability) of the autonomic nervous system React emotionally to things others consider insignificant (overreactive autonomic nervous systems) Not necessarily equated with debilitating psychological symptoms Genetically predisposed toward neuroticism or emotional stability Neurotic people show greater emotional arousal than stable people in response to stress Have more trouble returning to “baseline” after an emotional event; stay angry longer and are less likely to forgive someone. More vigilant to threats, especially social threats.

UNSTABLE STABLE INTROVERTED EXTRAVERTED choleric melancholic phlegmatic sanguine INTROVERTED EXTRAVERTED Moody Anxious Rigid Sober Pessimistic Reserved Unsociable Quiet Sociable Outgoing Talkative Responsive Easygoing Lively Carefree Leadership Passive Careful Thoughtful Peaceful Controlled Reliable Even-tempered Calm Touchy Restless Aggressive Excitable Changeable Impulsive Optimistic Active

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 Cynical about religion Males more than females (related to maleness)—men score twice as high as women High genetic component but less than extraversion and neuroticism Eventually determined that criminals score high on all three dimensions.

Energetic in everything Types Extraversion Traits Assertive Traits Sociable Traits Active Habitual Response Expresses Needs Habitual response Considerate Habitual response Smiles at everyone Habitual response Shakes everyone's hand Habitual response Parties Habitual response Energetic in everything Specific Response Level

Theory Hierarchy of Behavior Organization 1st 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 Five: extension of Eysenck’s three-level theory (Costa & McCrae) Five broad factors: Surgency or Extraversion Agreeableness Conscientiousness Emotional Stability Openness/Intellect Originally based on the combination of lexical and statistical approaches Big Five taxonomy has achieved a greater degree of consensus than any other trait taxonomy in the history of personality trait psychology

The Big 5 Openness Conscientiousness Extraversion Agreeableness Neuroticism

Evidence for the Five-Factor Model Empirical Evidence for Five-Factor Model Replicable in studies using English language trait words as items Found by more than a dozen researchers using different samples Replicated in different languages Replicated in every decade for the past half century, suggesting five- factor solution replicable over time Replicated using different item formats Some disagreement remains about the troublesome fifth factor—it’s called by different names, valued differently in various cultures

Personality Disorders & the Big Five 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.