Eysenck’s Trait Theory Hans Eysenck (1916-1998): Eysenck focused on normal and Eysenck focused on normal and pathological populations. He felt that many

Eysenck’s Trait Eysenck’s Trait TheoryTheory

Hans Eysenck (1916-1998):Hans Eysenck (1916-1998):• • Eysenck focused on normal andEysenck focused on normal andpathological populations.pathological populations.• • He felt that many traits are He felt that many traits are biologically based and were shaped biologically based and were shaped by evolutionary forces (e.g., by evolutionary forces (e.g., extraversion, neuroticism).extraversion, neuroticism).• • He used He used factor analysis factor analysis to to identify traits.identify traits.

Hans J. Eysenck: Personality as Hans J. Eysenck: Personality as TraitsTraits

A.A. Eysenck believes that the most Eysenck believes that the most fundamental personality characteristics fundamental personality characteristics are largely inherited.are largely inherited.

B.B. Also, Eysenck believes that all behavior Also, Eysenck believes that all behavior is learned--he advocates learning theory is learned--he advocates learning theory and the behavior therapies.and the behavior therapies.

C.C. Thus, Eysenck is something of an Thus, Eysenck is something of an anomaly in “trait” personality psychology.anomaly in “trait” personality psychology.

Hans J. Eysenck: Personality Hans J. Eysenck: Personality as Traitsas Traits

►Personality is “the sum-total of the actual or Personality is “the sum-total of the actual or potential behavior-patterns of the organism, as potential behavior-patterns of the organism, as determined by heredity and environment;determined by heredity and environment;

► it originates and develops through the functional it originates and develops through the functional interaction of the four main sectors into which interaction of the four main sectors into which these behavior-patterns are organized:these behavior-patterns are organized:

► the cognitive sector (intelligence), the conative the cognitive sector (intelligence), the conative sector (character), the affective sector sector (character), the affective sector (temperament), and the somatic sector (temperament), and the somatic sector (constitution).”(constitution).”


►For Eysenck, personality For Eysenck, personality consists of acts and consists of acts and dispositions organized in dispositions organized in a hierarchical fashion in a hierarchical fashion in terms of their level of terms of their level of generality.generality.

Eysenck => Hierarchy of TraitsEysenck => Hierarchy of Traits

►A. Specific Responses and Behaviors.A. Specific Responses and Behaviors.►B. Habits --> Cluster of Specific BehaviorsB. Habits --> Cluster of Specific Behaviors

(Gregariousness). (Gregariousness).►C. Traits --> Collection of Related HabitsC. Traits --> Collection of Related Habits

(Friendliness). (Friendliness).►D. Superfactor / Type --> (Extraversion).D. Superfactor / Type --> (Extraversion).

1. Eysenck generally studies this type of factor.1. Eysenck generally studies this type of factor. 2. Proposes 3 Factor Model --> "Big Three”:2. Proposes 3 Factor Model --> "Big Three”:

►a. Well Replicated Factors.a. Well Replicated Factors.►b. "Bipolar" Factors: Hi and Lo scores meaningful.b. "Bipolar" Factors: Hi and Lo scores meaningful.

Eysenck’s HierarchyEysenck’s Hierarchy

S pecif ic Be hav io rs

Habits

T ra its

S uper-Facto rs

Eysenck's Three Personality Eysenck's Three Personality Factors:Factors:

►Extraversion (- Introversion).Extraversion (- Introversion).►Neuroticism. Neuroticism. ►Psychoticism.Psychoticism.


►Extraversion - Introversion:Extraversion - Introversion: IntroversionIntroversion: tendermindedness; : tendermindedness;

introspectiveness; seriousness; performance introspectiveness; seriousness; performance interfered with by excitement; easily aroused interfered with by excitement; easily aroused but restrained, inhibited; preference for solitary but restrained, inhibited; preference for solitary vocations; sensitivity to pain.vocations; sensitivity to pain.

ExtraversionExtraversion: toughmindedness; impulsiveness; : toughmindedness; impulsiveness; tendency to be outgoing; desire for novelty; tendency to be outgoing; desire for novelty; performance enhanced by excitement; performance enhanced by excitement; preference for vocations involving contact with preference for vocations involving contact with

other people; tolerance for pain.other people; tolerance for pain.

A. Extraversion (E) [vs. A. Extraversion (E) [vs. Introversion]Introversion]

►High Extraversion: High Extraversion: Outgoing, Social, Lively, Friendly.Outgoing, Social, Lively, Friendly.

►Low Extraversion [Introversion]:Low Extraversion [Introversion]: Shy, Passive, Withdrawn.Shy, Passive, Withdrawn.

►Relationship to Brain Arousal:Relationship to Brain Arousal: Extravert: Low Cortical Arousal -- Understimulated.Extravert: Low Cortical Arousal -- Understimulated. Introvert: High Cortical Arousal -- Overstimulated.Introvert: High Cortical Arousal -- Overstimulated.


►NeuroticismNeuroticism: : Below-average Below-average emotional control, will-power, and emotional control, will-power, and capacity to exert self; slowness in capacity to exert self; slowness in thought and action; suggestibility; thought and action; suggestibility; lack of persistence; tendency to lack of persistence; tendency to repress unpleasant facts; lack of repress unpleasant facts; lack of sociability; below-average sensory sociability; below-average sensory acuity but high level of activation.acuity but high level of activation.

B. Neuroticism (N) [vs. Stability]B. Neuroticism (N) [vs. Stability]►High Neuroticism: High Neuroticism:

Anxious.Anxious. Tense.Tense. Worried.Worried. Depressed.Depressed. Moody.Moody.

►Low Neuroticism (Stability):Low Neuroticism (Stability): Sense of Well Being.Sense of Well Being. Freedom from Upset.Freedom from Upset. Emotionally Stable.Emotionally Stable. Easygoing.Easygoing.

High N: Related to High N: Related to MaladjustmentMaladjustment

► Type of maladjustment related to other traits:Type of maladjustment related to other traits: High N, High E --> Possibly Antisocial.High N, High E --> Possibly Antisocial. High N, Low E --> Anxiety Disorder, Phobias.High N, Low E --> Anxiety Disorder, Phobias. Disorders are not "Automatic”:Disorders are not "Automatic”:

►traits yield 'tendencies."traits yield 'tendencies."►specific environmental triggers required.specific environmental triggers required.


►PsychoticismPsychoticism: : Poor concentration, poor memory; Poor concentration, poor memory; insensitivity; lack of caring for insensitivity; lack of caring for others; cruelty; disregard for others; cruelty; disregard for danger and convention; danger and convention; occasionally originality and/or occasionally originality and/or creativity; liking for unusual things; creativity; liking for unusual things; considered peculiar by others.considered peculiar by others.

C. Psychoticism (P) vs. Tender C. Psychoticism (P) vs. Tender MindednessMindedness

►High PsychoticismHigh Psychoticism:: Egocentric, Impulsive, Non-conforming.Egocentric, Impulsive, Non-conforming. Suspicious, Sometimes antisocial.Suspicious, Sometimes antisocial.

►Low Psychoticism (Tender Minded)Low Psychoticism (Tender Minded) Warm, (Fuzzy?), Caring, Cooperative.Warm, (Fuzzy?), Caring, Cooperative. Conforming to social norms.Conforming to social norms.

►Men vs. Women: Who is Higher on P???Men vs. Women: Who is Higher on P???►Right! Males tend to show higher psychoticism Right! Males tend to show higher psychoticism

than females:than females: Eysenck: Link to Testosterone levels?Eysenck: Link to Testosterone levels?


►Eysenck postulates that people differ Eysenck postulates that people differ by heredity in terms of the way in by heredity in terms of the way in which their brains and central nervous which their brains and central nervous systems react to and process systems react to and process stimulation from the environment.stimulation from the environment.

►He relates these postulated He relates these postulated differences to his dimensions of differences to his dimensions of personality.personality.


►Eysenck suggests that differences in Eysenck suggests that differences in cortical excitation levels are associated cortical excitation levels are associated with extraversion (versus introversion).with extraversion (versus introversion).

►Extraverts:Extraverts: Cortical excitation levels are low in extraverts.Cortical excitation levels are low in extraverts. Such people tend to seek stimulation.Such people tend to seek stimulation.

►Introverts:Introverts: Excitation levels are high in introverts.Excitation levels are high in introverts. Such people tend to avoid additional stimulation.Such people tend to avoid additional stimulation.


►Eysenck suggests that neuroticism is Eysenck suggests that neuroticism is related to autonomic nervous system related to autonomic nervous system reactivity.reactivity.

►People whose autonomic nervous system is People whose autonomic nervous system is highly reactive is likely to develop a neurotic highly reactive is likely to develop a neurotic disorder.disorder.

►The tendency to respond very emotionally to The tendency to respond very emotionally to stimuli is seen as a predisposing condition to stimuli is seen as a predisposing condition to the development of a psychological disorder.the development of a psychological disorder.


►Eysenck: Disorders of the first kind.Eysenck: Disorders of the first kind. People who are both highly emotionally reactive People who are both highly emotionally reactive (neurotic on the normality-neurotic dimension) and (neurotic on the normality-neurotic dimension) and highly cortically excitable (introverted on the highly cortically excitable (introverted on the introversion-extraversion dimension).introversion-extraversion dimension).

For example, phobias, compulsions, obsessions.For example, phobias, compulsions, obsessions.

►Eysenck: Disorders of the second kind.Eysenck: Disorders of the second kind. People who are highly emotionally reactive but who People who are highly emotionally reactive but who have low levels of cortical excitation (extraverted on have low levels of cortical excitation (extraverted on the introversion-extraversion dimension).the introversion-extraversion dimension).

For example, the psychopath.For example, the psychopath.


►Heredity has a strong role in neuroticism, Heredity has a strong role in neuroticism, extraversion, and psychoticism.extraversion, and psychoticism.

►Nonetheless, Eysenck maintains that Nonetheless, Eysenck maintains that all all neurotic behavior is learnedneurotic behavior is learned!!

►According to Eysenck, the core According to Eysenck, the core phenomenon in neurosis is phenomenon in neurosis is a conditioned a conditioned fear reactionfear reaction..

►Since behaviors are learned, they can be Since behaviors are learned, they can be unlearned, using behavior therapies.unlearned, using behavior therapies.

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Eysenck’s Trait Theory Hans Eysenck (1916-1998): Eysenck focused on normal and Eysenck focused on normal and pathological populations. He felt that many