Biological Processes and Personality Flashcards
(29 cards)
what is the biological perspective of personality
why somewhat might show a particular level of a trait. Tells us why individual differences are important in multiple ways and address where the individual differences come from (in this case, differences in biology).
what was Eysencks view on brain functions of introverted extroverted?
- Introversion and extraversion reflect differences in cerebral cortex (grey matter, outside of the brain) activity which is associated with alertness.
o Introversion is more alert in baseline due to high cortical arousal
By themselves they are better able to concentrate. Because they are always more alert, they can get overstimulated in louder environments. (i.e. prefer quieter environments)
More inward orientated (how things affect them)
o Extraverted have lower cortical arousal at baseline
They seek out interaction to bring cortical arousal up.
More outward orientated.
What study did eysenck Run and what were his results
Eysenck’s Research: If extraverted individuals are alone, they should be drowsier and less vigilant and be able to concentrate less.
- Participants listen to numbers and say when there are 3 odd numbers in a row and people higher in extraversion will make more mistakes which he found to be correct.
- Results: Extraverts made more mistakes than introverts
- Thus, Introverts need less of a stimulant to become aroused, but they need more of a depressant to become less alert.
- Introverts excel in occupations that require less interaction with people and extraverted people tend toward
what is the functional approach
The Functional Approach: What is the function of parts of the brain, neurotransmitters in certain actions and behaviours.
what is the incentive approach system. What is another name for it?
Incentive Approach System (Behavioral approach system): Things we desire. The part of the brain that regulates pursuit of incentives. Thus, related to reward motivation. (e.g. causing us to pursue a reward)
- Associated with positive emotions related to anticipating a reward.
- The area of the brain that is the most related to positivity and happiness would be the left prefrontal cortex (LPFC – lets go PFC)
what part of the brain is associated with the incentive approach system and what research was conducted
- The area of the brain that is the most related to positivity and happiness would be the left prefrontal cortex (LPFC – lets go PFC)
Research: Participants presented with incentives or positive emotional adjectives showed increase activity in the LPFC seen under fMRI).
what neurotransmitter is assocaited with the incentive approach system. what do we know about this NT
Neurotransmitters: Chemicals involved in sending messages along nerve pathways.
Dopamine: Important in approach regulation and motivation
o Higher levels of dopamine related to novelty seeking, feels good, want more.
o Related to experiencing positive emotions meaning its necessary for wanting and seeking out a reward.
o Higher levels of dopamine then the more positive effect experienced
o Sugar releases dopamine when we eat it.
o Showing temperance and delaying reward, it releases more positive affect.
what is the behavioural avoidance system. What is another name for it?
Behavioral Avoidance or Withdrawal System (BWS): The part of the brain that regulates responses to punishment (associated with aversion and withdraw)
- This system alerts us of potential stimuli to avoid. (red light/reverse)
- Associated with the right prefrontal cortex (RPFC – reverse PFC)
- The area of the brain that is activated in presence of stimuli related to fear or disgust.
what NT is associated with the behavioural avoidance system. what do we know about them
Neurotransmitters: Less consensus regarding neurotransmitters and the BWS.
1) Serotonin: Could be anxiety but could also be related to impulse constraint (it’s an inhibitory NT). If serotonin levels are low, it will be harder to inhibit impulsive thoughts and impulses.
- Lower levels of serotonin with low levels of conscientiousness because it has to do with inhibiting temptation.
2) GABA: Related to neuroticism and anxiety disorders. (it’s an inhibitory NT). If these levels are lower and we deal with something that is aversive a person will be more susceptible to a panic attack because they can’t inhibit unwanted excitement.
- Negative correlation: levels go down, probability of panic attack goes up.
3) Norepinephrine: Possibly associated with anxiety but more likely produced in response to stress. Associated with adrenaline making our bodies more alert. Think anxiety provoking and doing well.
what traits are assocaited with the BWS and the BAS
The behavioral withdrawal system is linked to neuroticism because of lower levels of serotonin and GABA and higher dominance in RPFC.
The behavioural approach system is linked to extraversion because it is likely to seek out social contacts, energetic, pursue active lifestyle, or high-status careers (higher levels of dopamine).
what is meant by cortical lottery
E.g. cortical lottery: when we are born, we can be more approach orientated (not crying) meaning we won because there is more activated in the LPFC – feel happier and have more joy (higher range of positive affect). If we lost, then there is more activation in the RPFC (crying when caregiver is away).
what is sensation seeking and what do we know about people with high SS trait
Sensation Seeking: The tendency to seek our varied, unusual, and exciting stimuli.
- Don’t like predictability in routine, carries elements or risk,
- More likely to drive fast, use drugs, and engage in extreme sports like sky diving.
- Tend to become bored and report more dissatisfaction in relationships
- Self worth has to due with high-risk behaviour
- Habituate to things, prefer new tasks
what is the function of SS
Function of Sensation Seeking (i.e. what does it do for someone):
- To regulate exposure to stimulus intensity.
- Individuals higher in sensation seeking are better equipped for situations that activate withdrawal system.
- Related to extroversion
what is Impulsive Un-socialized Sensation Seeking (IUSS) and what is it assocaited with?
Impulsive Un-socialized Sensation Seeking (IUSS): The capacity to inhibit behaviour in service of social adaptation.
- Higher self-control: Serves a role in increasing interpersonal relationship skills
- High impulsivity: Less likely to self-monitor
- Sensation Seeking is negatively correlated with the temperament effortful control and the trait conscientiousness
what is Monoamine Oxidase and what is it related to
SS
Monoamine Oxidase (MAO): Helps to regulate several neurotransmitters and is involved with constraint over impulses
- Traits related to dominance; aggression are less likely as this enzyme increases.
- MAO A gene (warrior gene) then more likely to have big excitable reactions.
- Related to sensation seeking, restraining impulses, dominance, and aggression.
- Lower serotonin means more impulsivity, hostility and aggressiveness for individuals with more aggressive tendencies, but not for individuals with less aggressive tendencies (this is an interaction).
o Higher levels of serotonin, have lower aggressive reactions because less impulsive.
what is testosterone and androgen
Testosterone: A male sex hormone that influences a wide range of behaviours.
- Higher levels of T can effect propagating wildly. (look at notes) affects mating behaviours.
- Displaying dominance
Androgen: Males have more of these hormones. Makes males look masculine.
explain study 1 done on early exposure to T and physical aggression and its results
Study 1:
* Mothers had received artificial testosterone while being treated for pregnancy complications which effected the child’s T levels and the second child born after was no exposed to artificial T.
* Two Groups: Children exposed to hormones prenatally and their same sex siblings who had undergone normal development.
* Roughly 11 years later, children answered questions regarding hypothetical scenarios as to how likely they would use aggression.
Results: The question was, how often would either of the groups use physical aggression to solve conflict.
- Those exposed to testosterone (girls and boys) were significantly more likely to use physical aggression to solve conflict (there are sex differences – meaning there is a main effect).
explain study 2 done on females with CAH and the results
Study 2:
* Prenatally androgen-exposed girls and normally developed same sex relatives between ages 3-8 played with toys
Results: CAH females play with male toys.
what direction o skewed is T and professional athletes
negatively skewed
what kinds of people/occupations are higher in T and aggression, and competiton
Prison inmates with higher levels of testosterone…
- Violated rules more often, more dominant, and had committed more violent crimes.
- Similar results were found with female inmates
Men who were previously in the military with higher levels of testosterone …
o more likely to go AWOL and assault other individuals
o When growing up had more problems in school and with their parents.
Theres a negative correlation between testosterone and lower socioeconomic status
Testosterone and dominance:
Trial lawyers (competition) are more likely to have higher testosterone than other kinds of lawyers
Individuals with higher testosterone during brief social interactions display more independence and confidence when speaking to another person. (positive correlation)
People with higher testosterone prefer to be in high status positions (competitive and dominance) and people with low testosterone prefer to be in low status positions. (higher need for power + higher level of T = positive correlation)
Men higher in testosterone are less likely to get married, more likely to get divorced and engage in behavior that leads to divorce.
- Promiscuity, propagate widely, higher mating efforts, aggression, dominance.
what are anabolic steroids
Anabolic steroids
- Synthetic hormones related to testosterone. Artificial hormones that increase muscle mass.
- Individuals can act more aggressive, dominant, and go on a “roid rage” because higher levels of testosterone
in what siautions does T change in a person
Cycle of testosterone and Action: Relating to fluctuation of testosterone in environments (i.e. “right now I feel this)
- Levels of testosterone shift in response to social situations.
- Divorced will have higher T because it impacts mating behavior. If being married or something, T levels will go down.
- Just watching our favorite sports team win increases testosterone, but if they lose then testosterone decreases
- Increased arousal is associated with higher testosterone
- If someone insults us, testosterone increases
- Testosterone increases after success at a competitive event but decreases after failure.
- Looking at chess players. If they win, mor T, lose, less T
Testosterone as it relates to Dominance and Evolutionary Psychology
- Relates to intrasexual competition and dominance
- Male monkeys threatened by a rival had increased testosterone, which facilitated displays of dominance and aggression.
- When men start to care for offspring their testosterone decreases
T causes most changes in:
aggression, mating behaviour, and competition
