Hans J Eysenck's approach to personalityH. J. Eysenck approaches to personality this century method is factor analysis. In his origin model (EPI) Eysenck measured two dimensions of personality Introversion-extraversion and neuroticism (stability - instability). according to Eysenck this theory fits in very well with the theory of temperaments we looked at earlier.Why these three dimensions? Remember that factor analysis gives us many solutions to a factor matrix. Eysenck argues for the psychological reality of his dimensions by linking them to physiological mechanisms and by making predictions which can be tested experimentally. Later he incorporated a scale to measure psychoticism.
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| VERSION | SCALES | COMMENTS |
| MAUDSLEY MEDICAL QUESTIONNAIRE MMQ (1959) | Neuroticism | Clinical sample |
| MAUDSLEY PERSONALITY INVENTORY MPI (1959) | Neuroticism and extraversion | Added extraversion scale taken form Guilford |
| EYSENCK PERSONALITY INVENTORY EPI (1964) | Extraversion Neuroticism Lie-scale | Factor analysis used to purify scale |
| EYSENCK PERSONALITY QUESTIONNAIRE EPQ (1975) | Extraversion Neuroticism Psychoticism Lie-scale | Addition of psychoticism dimension |
| DIMENSION | DESCRIPTION | BIOLOGICAL SUB-SYSTEM | EVIDENCE FROM DRUG ACTION | BEHAVIORAL EVIDENCE |
| INTROVERSION-
EXTRAVERSION |
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Central Nervous System Arousal of the Reticular Activating System |
Alcohol Ritalin | Wilson (1990) Introverts show higher levels of arousal than extroverts Extroverts show increased arousal in the evening as they engage in stimulating activities. |
| NEUROTICISM-STABILITY |
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AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM Lability of the ANS
(System concerned with digestion, breathing etc The autonomic system of the neurotic is highly unstable and reactive. |
Anti-anxiolytic drugs | bio-feedback |
| PSYCHOTICISM-IMPULSE CONTROL |
|
Hormone levels |
Extraversion has been related to the arousability of the
nervous system Neuroticism to the liability of the autonomic nervous system
Psychoticism related to androgen level Extravert is low on arousal - stimulus
hunger - low threshold for boredom Introvert is highly aroused - any
stimulation is over stimulation Neurotic - rapid mood swings, sweating,
pallor, breathlessness, contractions of stomach, dryness of the mouth -
related to the ANS Women have lower levels of androgens and score lower on P.
Some controversial evidence that androgen level is related to violence.
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