Stress and Disease Dr. Donald B. Giddon

Harvard University, Fall 2013

Personality as an intervening variable in the stress response

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What is Personality?

Definition: Distinctive and relatively enduring ways of thinking, feeling, and acting, i.e. an enduring set of traits which encompass cognition, affect and behavior

Etiology: Interaction of temperament and environment

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• Activity levelActivity level

• Rhythmicity (hunger, sleep)Rhythmicity (hunger, sleep)

• Approach/withdrawal to new stimuliApproach/withdrawal to new stimuli

• Adaptability to changeAdaptability to change

• Intensity of reactionIntensity of reaction

• Threshold of responsivenessThreshold of responsiveness

• Quality of moodQuality of mood

• DistractibilityDistractibility

• Attention span/persistenceAttention span/persistence

Temperament may be reflected in nine Temperament may be reflected in nine dimensions, which can distinguish “easy dimensions, which can distinguish “easy babies,” “difficult babies,” and “slow-to-warm-babies,” “difficult babies,” and “slow-to-warm-

up babiesup babies””

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Many Ways to Describe

The Big Five Factors

Openness– Conscientiousness

– Extraversion

– Agreeableness

– Neuroticism

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Relation to Relation to Coping StylesCoping Styles

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The 16 Personality Factors and 4 Second-Order Indices from the 16PF (Cattel)The 16 Personality Factors and 4 Second-Order Indices from the 16PF (Cattel)

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INTERPERSONAL PERCEPTION DISCREPANCY INDEX The purpose of this exercise is to determine how accurately you perceive yourself as others see you. Using every pair of words in the list below, describe yourself as you believe others see you (in this situation) by circling the number between the two opposite words. You will then select significant others to fill out the same questions indicating how they actually perceive you. When complete, go back and check ( ) those three descriptions which best capture your own characteristics. Clear Thinking 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unclear Thinking Original 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unoriginal Scientific 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unscientific Humorous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Humorless Intuitive 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nonintuitive Conventional 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unconventional Confident 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unconfident Active 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Passive Enthusiastic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unenthusiastic Ambitious 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unambitious Aggressive 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Passive Easily Not Easily Influenced 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Influenced Deep 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Shallow Sophisticated 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Naive High Integrity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Low Integrity Responsible 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Irresponsible Sincere 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Insincere At Ease 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tense Person- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bio-Technically Oriented Oriented Extroverted 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Introverted Healthy 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unhealthy 2/72 TUSDM Giddon & Rosenzweig

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((IPD is also IPD is also on course on course web site)web site)

Trustworthy 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Untrustworthy Frank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Guarded (expresses feelings) Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not Helpful Communicative 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Uncommunicative Tactful 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tactless Good Listener 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Poor Listener Trusting 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Suspicious Patient 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Impatient Warm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cold Fair 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unfair Accepting 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rejecting Democratic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Autocratic Kind 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cruel Sensitive 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Insensitive Humble 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Proud Informal 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Formal Tolerant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prejudiced Realistic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Idealistic Understandable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Confusing Healthy 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unhealthy Attractive 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unattractive Fit 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unfit Masculine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Feminine Coordinated 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Uncoordinated Fat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Thin 2/72 TUSDM Giddon & Rosenzweig

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Stability of Personality TraitsStability of Personality Traits

• Most traits are stableMost traits are stable

• May know the influence of all the May know the influence of all the variables, but not how much is variables, but not how much is operating in a given individualoperating in a given individual

• But difficult to predict behavior from But difficult to predict behavior from personality traitspersonality traits

Freudian Theory

Levels of consciousness– Conscious

• What we are aware of

– Preconscious• Memories etc. that can

be recalled

– Unconscious• Wishes, feelings,

impulses that lies beyond awareness

Structures of Personality– Id

• Operates according to the “pleasure principle”

– Ego• Operates according to

the “reality” principle

– Superego• Contains values and

ideals

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Freudian Theory of Coping

Anxiety occurs when:– Impulses from the id threaten to get out of

control– Ego perceives THREAT from the environment

• E.g. Loss

Ego deals with the problem through:– Coping strategies– Defense mechanisms

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Ego-Defense Mechanisms• Protect ego against painful and threatening impulses

arising from the id by distorting reality

• Normal behaviors which operate at unconscious level

• Help the individual cope with anxiety

• Prevent the ego from being overwhelmed

• Have adaptive value unless become a style of escapism

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Freudian TheoryFreudian Theory

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Motivation: Humanistic TheoryMotivation: Humanistic Theory

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Eysenck’s Model of PersonalityEysenck’s Model of Personality

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Related BehaviorsRelated Behaviors

Personality Types• Useful, but no longer empirically justified

• Type A – demanding, time urgency, high levels of competitiveness, ambition, workaholic, aggression, hostility, self-referrent– Buffering role of target

• Type B – more relaxed, less time urgency than Type A, agreeable, seeks consensus

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Characteristics of Type A Personality –

• Body language and speech patterns:– Tightening of facial muscles– Gesturing with a clenched fist– Grimacing– Using explosive speech– Interrupting or hurrying the interviewer

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Type A Personality Health Risks

• Greater rate of:

‾ Cardiovascular disease

‾ Heart attacks

‾ Second heart attack or stroke

• Need for target to direct hostility

- Or reflected inward25

The Type C Personality

• Identified by Temoshok and Dreher*– Cancer-prone personality

– Suppresses emotions

– Resigned to failure

* Also see: Klopfer. Psychological Variables in Human Cancer (on course web site)

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Type D “Distressed” Personality

Two stable personality traits– Negative affectivity– Social Inhibition

Do not express negative emotions in social interactions

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Anger and Hostility

• Frustration-aggression hypothesis• Anger

– Directed at anything– Reaction to a specific situation

• Road rage

• Hostility– An enduring anger directed at people

– Anger in versus out

• Relation to Disease– Role of target

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Locus of Control (Rotter)Internal locus of control

– Life outcomes are under personal control– Positively correlated with self-esteem– Internals use more problem-focused coping

External locus of control– Luck, chance, and powerful others control

behavior Relation to Religious Beliefs

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Self-efficacySelf-efficacy

Beliefs concerning ability to perform behaviors needed to achieve a desired outcome

Four important determinants:– Previous performance attainments

– Observational learning

– Verbal persuasion

– Controlling negative arousal

– Importance in health care behaviors

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Learned Helplessness-Giving Up, Seligman, 1975

• Lose all control and give up

• Stop making efforts to control one’s environment-even it it is controllable

• Pessimism-less healthy• Retirement-could be

time of helplessness31

Personality Assessment

Structured interviews

Behavioral assessment

Remote behavior sampling

PsychometricsObjectiveProjective

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Personality Scales and Personality Scales and Self-ratingsSelf-ratings

Interview DataInterview Data

Reports, RatingsReports, Ratingsby Other Peopleby Other People

Behavioral AssessmentBehavioral Assessment

Physiologic MeasuresPhysiologic Measures

Responses onResponses onProjective TestsProjective Tests

Methods of Assessing Personality ConstructsMethods of Assessing Personality Constructs

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The Hardy Personality

• Identified by Kobasa and Maddi– Exhibits three personality traits that

protect against ravages of stress• Commitment (other than work)

• Control (internal locus of control)

• Challenge (welcomes change, as an opportunity)

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0 = Strongly disagree1 = Mildly disagree2 = Mildly agree3 = Strongly agree

___A.Trying my best at work makes a difference.___B. Trusting to fate is sometimes all I can do in a relationship.___C. I often wake up eager to start on the day’s projects.___D. Thinking of myself as a free person leads to great frustration and difficulty. ___E. I would sacrifice financial security in my work if something really challenging came along.___F. It bothers me when I have to deviate from the routine or schedule I have set for myself.___G. An average citizen can have an impact on politics.___H. Without the right breaks, it is hard to be successful in my field.___I. I know why I am doing what I’m doing at work.___J. Getting close to people puts me at risk of being obligated to them.___K. Encountering new situations is an important priority in my life.___L. I really don’t mind when I have nothing to do.

How Hardy Are You?How Hardy Are You?

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Measurement of Personality Variables (Psychometrics)

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(See list on course web site)(See list on course web site)

The Twelve Most Frequently Used Tests in the United StatesThe Twelve Most Frequently Used Tests in the United States

Measurement of Some Psychological VariablesMeasurement of Some Psychological Variables

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Projective Tests

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comments

Calm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Excitable

Adaptable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Inflexible

Outgoing 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Withdrawn

Successful 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unsuccessful

Influential 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Uninfluential

Honest 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dishonest

Intelligent 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unintelligent

Domineering 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Submissive

Competitive 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not competitive

Athletic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not athletic

Proud 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Humble

Sociable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unsociable

Masculine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not Masculine

Feminine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not Feminine

Likeable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not likeable

Bold 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Timid

Attractive 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unattractive

Distinctive 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not distinctive

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Pertinent Traits in Schack Project

• Uninhibited:– outgoing

– dominant

– competitive

– proud

– sociable

– bold

• Inhibited– withdrawn

– submissive

– not competitive

– humble

– unsociable

– timid

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Facial Landmarks (Full Face)

• 29 landmarks• Scion Image

*points enlarged for presentation

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Facial Landmarks (Profile)

• 16 landmarks• Scion Image

*points enlarged for presentation

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The #1 FaceThe #1 FaceSuccessfulSuccessfulHonestHonestInfluentialInfluentialIntelligentIntelligent

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Relation of Physical Features Relation of Physical Features to Personalityto Personality

• Hypothesis that perceptions of personality Hypothesis that perceptions of personality attributes are influenced by facial attributes are influenced by facial morphologymorphology

• Narrower (Dolichofacial)- inhibitedNarrower (Dolichofacial)- inhibited

• Wider ratios (Brachyfacial)- uninhibitedWider ratios (Brachyfacial)- uninhibited

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Somatotypes (Sheldon)

• Ectomorph• Self-conscious, Private, Introverted, Artistic, Intense

• Mesomorph– Adventurous, Courageous, Indifferent to what

others think or want, Assertive/bold

• Endomorph– Sociable, Tolerant, Even-tempered, Relaxed

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PHRENOLOGYPHRENOLOGY

Explanations for links between Explanations for links between face and personalityface and personality

• Both influenced by biologyBoth influenced by biology• genes, syndromes genes, syndromes

• Both influenced by same environmentBoth influenced by same environment• poor nutrition, spousespoor nutrition, spouses

• personality influences facepersonality influences face• George Orwell, Oscar Wilde (Dorian Grey)George Orwell, Oscar Wilde (Dorian Grey)

• face influences the environment, personalityface influences the environment, personality• self-fulfilling / self-defeatingself-fulfilling / self-defeating

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Other Biological LinksOther Biological Links

• Rosenberg, KaganRosenberg, Kagan– eye color, inhibited vs uninhibitedeye color, inhibited vs uninhibited

• Kagan et al- dark eyes less inhibitedKagan et al- dark eyes less inhibited

• Salivary cortisol levels higher in inhibited Salivary cortisol levels higher in inhibited children children

• Other pathwaysOther pathways

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Birth OrderBirth Order

The Twelve Most Frequently Used Tests in the United StatesThe Twelve Most Frequently Used Tests in the United States

Measurement of Some Psychological VariablesMeasurement of Some Psychological Variables

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Personality Assessment

Structured interviews

Behavioral assessment

Remote behavior sampling

PsychometricsObjectiveProjective

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Personality Assessment

Projective Tests– Person is presented with an ambiguous stimulus

– Interpretation of the stimulus will be a “projection” of inner needs and feelings

– Rorschach Ink-blot Test

– Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

– Draw-a-person Test

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Projective Tests

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Evolutionary TheoryEvolutionary Theory

Where did the traits come from?Where did the traits come from?

– Traits have been selected for:Traits have been selected for:

• Physical survivalPhysical survival

• Reproduction of the speciesReproduction of the species

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Evolutionary Influences on Personality/BehaviorEvolutionary Influences on Personality/Behavior

Past InfluencesPast Influences Present InfluencesPresent Influences

Impact of Impact of current situationcurrent situation

Evolution ofEvolution ofHomo sapiensHomo sapiens

GeneticsGenetics

Environmental Environmental factorsfactors

Personality Personality traitstraits

Emotional andEmotional andcognitive reactionscognitive reactions

BEHAVIORBEHAVIOR

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Relation of Physiognomy to Relation of Physiognomy to PersonalityPersonality

• Hypothesis that perceptions of personality Hypothesis that perceptions of personality attributes are influenced by facial attributes are influenced by facial morphologymorphology

• Narrower (Dolichofacial)- inhibitedNarrower (Dolichofacial)- inhibited

• Wider ratios (Brachyfacial)- uninhibitedWider ratios (Brachyfacial)- uninhibited

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Explanations for links between Explanations for links between face and personalityface and personality

• Both influenced by biologyBoth influenced by biology• genes, syndromes genes, syndromes

• Both influenced by same environmentBoth influenced by same environment• poor nutrition, spousespoor nutrition, spouses

• personality influences facepersonality influences face• George Orwell, Oscar Wilde (Dorian Grey)George Orwell, Oscar Wilde (Dorian Grey)

• face influences the environment, personalityface influences the environment, personality• self-fulfilling / self-defeatingself-fulfilling / self-defeating

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Biological LinksBiological Links

• Rosenberg, KaganRosenberg, Kagan– eye color, inhibited vs uninhibitedeye color, inhibited vs uninhibited

• Kagan et al- dark eyes less inhibitedKagan et al- dark eyes less inhibited

• salivary cortisol levels higher in inhibited salivary cortisol levels higher in inhibited children children

• Other pathwaysOther pathways

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Receptivity to scientific innovation by birth order and shyness. A shy disposition keeps Receptivity to scientific innovation by birth order and shyness. A shy disposition keeps individuals from expressing the tendencies they would otherwise express according to their individuals from expressing the tendencies they would otherwise express according to their birth orders. It is difficult for a shy later-born to be a staunch proponent of radical thinking. In birth orders. It is difficult for a shy later-born to be a staunch proponent of radical thinking. In contrast, shy firstborns are more likely than not-so-shy firstborns to accept new theories. contrast, shy firstborns are more likely than not-so-shy firstborns to accept new theories. These findings entail a significant interaction effect: birth rank and shyness have These findings entail a significant interaction effect: birth rank and shyness have nonadditivenonadditive consequences. Although birth order exerts a significant main effect on scientific stance, consequences. Although birth order exerts a significant main effect on scientific stance, shyness only does so in conjunction with birth order.shyness only does so in conjunction with birth order.

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