Biological Perspective

Question 1

Major themes and assumptions

Answer 1

Three general ideas:

1. That many personality characteristics are genetically determined
2. That human behaviour produced is by a complex biological system (eg hormones, neurotransmitters)
3. That our behavioural tendencies and to some extent our personality derive from our evolutionary history

Question 2

Behavioural genetics

Answer 2

Examines the relationship between genes, environments and behaviour.
Robert Plomin is a key researcher in this area.
Genetic heritability is the extent to which any phenotype is the result of genes

Question 3

Genotype

Answer 3

Genetic structure

Question 4

Phenotype

Answer 4

Observable characteristics

Can be our personality

Question 5

Genetic heritability

Answer 5

Assessed by degree of variability between parent and child
Estimate extent of genetic heritability of behaviour across a population
State the genetic heritability of behaviour in terms of shared variance (h^2)
If a trait is genetic, it should highly correlate between identical twins

Question 6

Additive genetic variance

Answer 6

Total gene variance inherited from parents

Gene + environment (not considered accurate anymore)

Question 7

Dominant gene variance (non-additive)

Answer 7

Dominant genes are expressed and recessive genes are not

Question 8

Epistatic genetic variance

Answer 8

Genes interact. Some genes we inherit determine how others will be expressed or suppressed (epistasis)

Question 9

How do we assess genetic variability?

Answer 9

Family studies
Twin studies
Adoption studies

Question 10

Hans Eysenck’s structure of personality

Answer 10

Structure developed using factor analysis
Concluded that all traits could be subsumed under 3 primary personality dimensions:
1. Extraversion-Intraversion
2. Neuroticism (emotional stability vs instability)
3. Psychoticism (no polar opposite) high scores = cold, antisocial, no empathy, aggressive.

Question 11

Personality assessment: Eysenck

Answer 11

Self-report inventory
Eysenck’s extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism scales (EPQ)
Three sub scales
Each comprises 12 items measured on a dichotomous response scale (yes/no)

Question 12

Cloninger’s Biological Model: temperament domains (biological origin)

Answer 12

Novelty seeking: impulsive behaviour, linked with dopamine
Harm avoidance: cautious, low risk-taking, linked with serotonin (regulation of mood, emotions and sleep)
Reward dependence: friendliness, rewards, associated with stress hormones
Persistence: perseverance despite challenges, also related to stress hormone

Question 13

Cloninger’s biological model: character domain (not biological in origin)

Answer 13

Self-directedness: perceptions of autonomy
Cooperativeness: fitting into society
Self-transcendence: religious faith, mythical experiences

Question 14

Personality assessment: Cloninger’s model

Answer 14

Measures by the Temperance and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) which is comprised of 240 items

Question 15

Hormones and personality

Answer 15

Uses endocrine system, rather than brain processes to explain personality
High testosterone: antisocial behaviour, aggression and dominance
Testosterone findings inconsistent and complex
High cortisol: severe depression?

Question 16

Neurotransmitters and personality

Answer 16

Communication between neurons in the brain is based upon neurotransmitters.
High norepinephrine: anxiety-prone, dependent, sociable
Low norepinephrine: disinhibition and impulsivity
Low MAO (enzyme): aggression, extraversion, sensation seeking
Serotonin: role in inhibition of behavioural and emotional impulses
Low serotonin: obsessive worry, depression, irrational anger, chronic pessimism
High serotonin: compulsive, obsessive tidy

Question 17

Basic assumptions of evolutionary theory

Answer 17

Behaviours seen in people are present because in the evolutionary history of the human species these behaviour were helpful for survival
The more a behaviour helps us auroras and reproduce, the more likely to occurs in subsequent generations

Question 18

Genetic similarity theory

Answer 18

More attracted to strangers who resemble you than who don’t (Rushton)
Offspring receive your genes and other similar genes

Question 19

Daly and Wilson: mate selection

Answer 19

Woman examine gene quality and resource investment (attracted to men who are financially stable and are physically attractive/good genes)
Men examine physical attractiveness (reproductive value) (attracted to women who are younger - more likely to produce more offspring, and good looking - good genes)

Question 20

Cross cultural applicability?

Answer 20

Men looked for younger women and women look for older men (evidence seen across 37 countries)
Women look for good financial prospects (evidence in various countries)
Women more concerned with emotional infedelity, men concerned with sexual infedelity

Question 21

Do results overemphasis gender differences?

Answer 21

Both genders look for:
Good sense of humour
Pleasing personality
Agreeableness
Emotional stability
Kindness
Lovingness

Question 22

Evolutionary theory and aggression

Answer 22

Aggression pre-programmed to serve adaptive purpose
Inter-male fighting in animals purposive and adaptive
Ethnological analysis of aggression in animals well established
Questions whether this applies to humans

Question 23

Evolutionary theory and altruism

Answer 23

Why would it be useful to be unselfish, from an evolutionary perspective?
It is reciprocal
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