Eysencks Theory

Parts of Slideshow adapted from Dr Simon Boag

Email: simon.boag@psy.mq.edu.au
Lecture Outline
I. Eysencks dimensional approach
Extroversion vs introversion
Neuroticism vs Stable

II. Biological basis of personality

RAS & visceral brain (PNS)
III. Summary & evaluation
Learning Outcomes
After this lecture you should be able to:
Understand & explain the meaning of
personality type, trait & dimension
Describe & explain extroversion,
introversion, neuroticism & stable
Describe & explain Eysencks biological
explanation for personality differences
Types & Traits
Traits: An enduring characteristic of a
persons behavior
eg. sociable/unsociable
Types: A class of individuals with
common characteristic or pattern of
characteristics (physical/psychological)
eg.
Sheldon (1942) Varieties of Temperament
Personality Types
Hippocrates (460?-377?BC) & Galen (130-
200? AD): personality based on humors
Sanguine (blood)
Warm-hearted, optimistic
Melancholic (black bile)
Sad, depressed, anxious
Choleric (yellow bile)
Quick tempered, angry, assertive
Phlegmatic (phlegm)
Slow, lethargic, calm
Eysencks Theory of Personality
Hans Eysenck (1916-1997)
Eysencks Approach
Identifying universal, measurable
dimensions of personality
Rejects unique individual: the unique
individual is simply the point of
intersection of a number of quantitative
variables (Eysenck, 1952, p.18).
Identified through large scale assessment
eg. US Airforce personnel
Statistical approach: Factor analysis
Eysencks Personality Types
(1) Extrovert

(2) Introvert

(3) Neurotic

(4) Stable
Personality Dimensions (1):
Introversion/Extroversion
Adapted from Jungs types
Extrovert:
Outgoing, embraces the world, responsive
to social & physical stimulation
Insensitive to stimulation (stimulus
hungry)
Introvert:
Hesitant, reflective, withdraws from social
& physical stimulation
Sensitive to stimulation (stimulus shy)
Extroversion/Introversion
Dimension : relative degree (more or less)
Introvert X Y Z Extrovert

Extrovert: sociable, outgoing,

interactive, expressive, sensation seeking,
acts first, think later, dislikes being alone
Introvert: private, reclusive, reserved,
quiet, inward, sensitive, thinks before
acting, exhausted by groups
Personality Dimension (2):
Neuroticism/Normality
High degree of neuroticism:
More emotionally reactive
eg. moody, tense, anxious, irritable
High degree of stability:
Less emotionally reactive (but still have
emotions)
Dimensions: Persons X & Y
Introversion/Extroversion:

Intr. X Y Extr.

Neuroticism/Stable:

Neur. Y X Stable

These dimensions are orthogonal

II. The Biological Basis of
Personality
Personality types result from differences
in central nervous system (CNS)
functioning
Implications:
Genetic basis of personality
Relatively stable & unchanging
However: environment interacts with
biological predispositions
Biological Basis of
Extroversion/Introversion
RAS system:
Reticular Activation System
Cortical excitation & inhibition
High RAS arousal:
Predisposes to introversion
Low RAS arousal:
Predisposes to extroversion
Evidence: Introverts have higher sedation
threshold than extroverts (cf. ADHD)
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Parasympathetic Nervous System (Slow Down)
Sympathetic Nervous System (Speed Up)
Extroverts:
Low RAS arousal
Introverts:

High RAS arousal

Neurotics
High Sympathetic Response (PNS)
Stable
High Parasympathetic Response (PNS)
Biological & Environmental
Interaction
Biological causes act in such a way as to
predispose an individual in certain ways
to stimulation; this stimulation may or
may not occur, depending on
circumstances which are entirely under
environmental control
(Eysenck, 1967, pp. 221-222)
Effect of different teaching environments
III. Evaluation
Twin studies: E & N: 50% genetic
Adoption studies: Correlations b/w
adoptive parents & adopted children for E
& N are around 0%
E, N & P: highest validity of all traits
(Kline, 1993)
Contradictory findings (eg. sedation
findings)
Hypothesised brain areas are not
independent of one another
Summary
Eysencks approach identifies personality
dimensions (ext/int; neu/nor)
A persons placing on these dimensions
determines their personality temperament
Eysenck proposes a biological basis for
personality
Extroversion & introversion are said to be
related to RAS functioning
Neuroticism & normality are said to be
related to visceral brain activity (PNS)