EYSENCK’S HIERARCHICAL TRAIT THEORY Eysenck describes personality in a hierarchy of constructs. Acts are organised into Habits, then to Traits, then to Factors (Eysenck, 1990). For Example Act – Buy food Habit – Buy food for party Trait – Has party’s frequently and is often seen with groups of people Factor – They are on the extravert side of the extraversion–introversion continuum UNSTABLE EXTRAVERSION STABILITY INTROVERSION 1916 199 7 STRENGTHS OF THE THEORY The PEN model is a combination of descriptive and causal aspects of personality, which makes it more distinct than other theories, such as the Five Factor Model (Costa & McCrae, 1992: Eysenck, 1991). The Pen model offers causal explanations, as well as simply describing personality traits. The PEN model offers clear and concise levels, which are easy to understand and do not over lap each other like other models do. The PEN model discriminates intellectual processes from emotional ones (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1985). The PEN model offers a strong experimental approach to the study of personality, which means it is a testable theory and as a result of this has served as a good role model for many other personality theories (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1985). WEAKNESSES OF THE THEORY Eysenck’s theory, although extremely popular, has however been criticised due to its failure to produce evidence that introverts and extroverts condition differently, (Gross,R, 2009). There has also been criticisms in the usefulness of a trait approach theory to personality, some suggesting that personality traits are not a good predictor of future behaviours (Mischel, 1973) Eysenck’s Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) was criticised by Heim (Heim, 1970, as cited in Gross, 1990). She stated that yes and no questions could not possibly be thorough enough to even begin to understand the many different aspects of personality. PSYCHOTICISM The psychoticism dimension is a more recent addition and is less well defined than neuroticism and extraversion. Psychoticism is at one end of the continuum and super-ego control is at the other (Carducci, 2009) Those HIGH on psychoticism are: • Non-conformist • Tough-minded • Willing to take risks • Unconcerned about the rights and welfare of others • May engage in antisocial behaviours Those LOW on psychoticism are: • Warm • Sensitive • Concerned about others FACTOR HABIT ACT HABIT ACT HABIT ACT TRAIT TRAIT “BUGS BUNNY” • Warm • Cheerful • Talkative • Enjoys being centre of attention • Seeks novelty and excitement “PORKY PIG” • Very self aware • Quiet and reserved in large groups • Learns well through observation • Tends to keep emotions private “TAZ-MANIA” • Hostile • Reckless • Lacks Common Sense • Shows inappropriate emotional expression “DAFFY DUCK” • Anxious • Moody • Jealous • Envious WHICH CHARACTER ARE YOU? EYSENCK’S 3 MAIN PERSONALITY TRAITS Eysenck created a model of personality traits, it initially consisted of the continuums of Extraversion and Neuroticism, later adding Psychoticism creating the PEN Model (Eysenck, 1990). The three traits are on a spectrum: Eysenck believes everyone exists somewhere on the spectrum of all three personality traits. EXTRAVERSION The extraversion dimension is widely seen as a continuum ranging from extroversion to introversion (Maltby & Macaskill , 2010). Those HIGH on extroversion (extroverts) are: • Sociable • Impulsive • Like Excitement • Directed towards external reality • Lively • Active • Assertive • Sensation-Seeking • Carefree • Dominant Those LOW on extroversion (introverts) are: • Less sociable • Quiet • Introspective individuals • Directed towards inner reality • Like to live a well ordered life NEUROTICISM Last is neuroticism. Individuals exist on this spectrum to varying degrees. Eysenck (Matthews & Gilliland, 1999) claims that neurotics are best explained as individuals who are unstable. Those HIGH on neuroticism (emotionally unstable) are: • Exaggerated or unsubstantiated fears, including objects, places, animals or even certain individuals • Impulsive or obsessive behaviours • Excess fear and anxiety • Depression • Feelings of guilt • Low self-esteem • Tension • Irrationality Those LOW on neuroticism (emotionally stable) are: • Calm • Even-tempered • Less likely to feel tense INTRODUCTION Hans J. Eysenck was born in Germany in 1916. He left Germany for France in 1934 and eventually established a life for himself in Britain. Eysenck was one of the first psychologists to relate biology to personality and has developed an extensive range of theories on many topics and published over 40 books, many of which he has co-written with his wife Sybil B.G. Eysenck. He has also completed publications with his son Michael W. Eysenck; a psychologist who specialises in memory. Hans Eysenck decided to retire in 1983 but continued writing until he died in September 1997. Eysenck’s Trait Personality Theory is based on biological explanations (Eysenck, 1990). Eysenck believed that an individual’s personality traits, or what Eysenck referred to as ‘temperament’, are caused directly by a person’s genetic make-up (Chamorro-Premuzic & Furnham, 2005). There have been many studies that support biological explanations of Eysenck’s trait personality theory; these include, twin studies (Eaves & Eysenck, 1975, and Eysenck, 1990) and brain imaging (Canli et al., 2001). Psychoticism → Ego Control Extroversion → Introversion Neuroticism → Stability HEL P!
1. INTRODUCTIONHans J. Eysenck was born in Germany in 1916. He
left Germany for France in 1934 and eventually established a life
for himself in Britain. Eysenck was one ofthe first psychologists
to relate biology to personality and has developed an extensive
range of theories on many topics and published over 40 books, many
ofwhich he has co-written with his wife Sybil B.G. Eysenck. He has
also completed publications with his son Michael W. Eysenck; a
psychologist who specialises inmemory. Hans Eysenck decided to
retire in 1983 but continued writing until he died in September
1997. Eysencks Trait Personality Theory is based onbiological
explanations (Eysenck, 1990). Eysenck believed that an individuals
personality traits, or what Eysenck referred to as temperament, are
causeddirectly by a persons genetic make-up (Chamorro-Premuzic
& Furnham, 2005). There have been many studies that support
biological explanations of Eysenckstrait personality theory; these
include, twin studies (Eaves & Eysenck, 1975, and Eysenck,
1990) and brain imaging (Canli et al., 2001). STABILITY EYSENCKS 3
MAIN PERSONALITY TRAITS Eysenck created a model of personality
traits, it initially consisted of the continuums of Extraversion
and Neuroticism, later adding Psychoticism creating the PEN Model
(Eysenck, 1990). EXTRAVERSION INTROVERSION The three traits are on
a spectrum: Psychoticism Ego Control Extroversion Introversion
Neuroticism Stability UNSTABLE Eysenck believes everyone exists
somewhere on the spectrum of all three personality traits.
EXTRAVERSION PSYCHOTICISM NEUROTICISM The extraversion dimension is
widely seen as aThe psychoticism dimension is a Last is
neuroticism. Individuals exist on this spectrum continuum ranging
from extroversion tomore recent addition and is less to varying
degrees. Eysenck (Matthews & Gilliland, introversion (Maltby
& Macaskill , 2010).well defined than neuroticism and 1999)
claims that neurotics are best explained asextraversion.
Psychoticism is at individuals who are unstable. Those HIGH on
extroversion (extroverts) are:one end of the continuum and
Sociablesuper-ego control is at the other Those HIGH on neuroticism
(emotionally unstable) Impulsive(Carducci, 2009) are: Like
Excitement Exaggerated or unsubstantiated fears, including Directed
towards external realityThose HIGH on psychoticism are: objects,
places, animals or even certain individuals Lively Non-conformist
Impulsive or obsessive behaviours Active Tough-minded Excess fear
and anxiety Assertive Willing to take risks Depression
Sensation-Seeking Unconcerned about the rights Feelings of guilt
Carefree and welfare of others Low self-esteem Dominant May engage
in antisocial Tension behaviours Irrationality Those LOW on
extroversion (introverts) are: Less sociableThose LOW on
psychoticism are: Those LOW on neuroticism (emotionally stable)
are: Quiet Warm Calm Introspective individuals Sensitive
Even-tempered Directed towards inner reality Concerned about others
Less likely to feel tense Like to live a well ordered life EYSENCKS
HIERARCHICAL TRAIT THEORYEysenck describes personality in a
hierarchy of constructs. Acts are organised into Habits, then to
Traits, FACTOR then to Factors (Eysenck, 1990). HEL P! TRAIT TRAIT
For ExampleAct Buy foodHabit Buy food for party HABIT HABIT HABIT
Trait Has partys frequently and is often seen with groups of
peopleFactor They are on the extravert side of the
extraversionintroversion continuum ACT ACT ACT STRENGTHS OF THE
THEORY WEAKNESSES OF THE THEORY The PEN model is a combination of
descriptive and causal aspects of personality, which makes
itEysencks theory, although extremely popular, has more distinct
than other theories, such as the Five Factor Model (Costa &
McCrae, 1992: Eysenck,however been criticised due to its failure to
produce 1991). The Pen model offers causal explanations, as well as
simply describing personality traits.evidence that introverts and
extroverts conditiondifferently, (Gross,R, 2009). The PEN model
offers clear and concise levels, which are easy to understand and
do not over lap each other like other models do. The PEN model
discriminates intellectual processes fromThere has also been
criticisms in the usefulness of a emotional ones (Eysenck &
Eysenck, 1985).trait approach theory to personality, some
suggestingthat personality traits are not a good predictor of The
PEN model offers a strong experimental approach to the study of
personality, which means itfuture behaviours (Mischel, 1973) is a
testable theory and as a result of this has served as a good role
model for many other personality theories (Eysenck & Eysenck,
1985).Eysencks Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) was PORKY PIG
TAZ-MANIAcriticised by Heim (Heim, 1970, as cited in Gross, DAFFY
DUCK BUGS BUNNY WHICH Hostile1990). She stated that yes and no
questions could CHARACTER ARE YOU? Very self aware Quiet and
reserved Warm Cheerful Recklessnot possibly be thorough enough to
even begin to Anxious in large groups Learns well through Talkative
Lacks Common Moody Enjoys beingunderstand the many different
aspects of personality. Jealous observation centre Sense Tends to
keep of attention Shows 1916 Envious emotions Seeks novelty
inappropriate -199 private and excitement emotional expression
7
