- a decrease in a conditioned response due to muscular/neural fatigue (Clark Hull)
- Reactive Inhibition
- a general class of theories that assumes behavior is partly a function of the general state of arousal (excitation) or derousal (inhibition) of the cortex and/or other brain structures
- Arousal theory
(Introvert\'s brain has higher levels of neural activity; EP\'s are strong and are generated quickly; reactive inhibitions develop slowly and dissipate quickly - According to Eysenck, this is caused by abnormally high levels of the 3 superfactors that characterize all personality. Quantitative in nature
- psychopathology
- Controls introversion/ extro-version
responsible for patterns of excitation and inhibition of the cerebral cortex - Ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)
- Controls neuroticism
regulates emotional expression & controls the autonomic nervous system - Visceral Brain (VB) or Limbic System
- Criticisms of Eysenck:
- 1- too subjective
2- behavior is not as consistent as factor theories suggest
3- excessive emphasis on groups and averages - Eysenck believed psychotherapy
- should always be derived from empirical data and principles that have been shown to be effective
- Eysenck states that psychiatric patients (& personalities in general) were described by 3 major independent types or superfactors
- N- Neuroticism vs. Stability: most severe patients labeled Dysthymic(depression)
E- Extroversion vs. Introversion: most severe patients labeled Hysteric
P- Psychoticism:
those patients who suffered from a psychotic disorder
- Eysenck was intrerested in the biological bases of personality and borrowed ideas from Pavlov and Hull
- ideas about excitation and inhibition
- Eysenck\'s approach to research that begins w/ a hypothesis, then deduces testable predictions from the hypothesis & then gathers data to determine whether the predictions are accurate
- hypothetico-deductive reasoning
- Eysenck\'s contribution:
farewell to mythical psychology:
- Eysenck emphasized scientific, empirical research and challenged other psychologists to subject their theories to the same scrutiny
- high ARAS
high VB - neurotic introvert
- high ARAS
low VB - normal introvert
- historical roots of Eysenck\'s theory was based on this
- Jung\'s hypothesis:
-Introvert vs. Extrovert
- In order to demonstrate a bio basis for P, E, and N,
4 criteria must be met: - 1-data must demonstrate heritability
2-confirm similar traits of P,E, and N in non-human animals
3-evidence of P,E, and N must be found cross-culturally
4-P,E, and N must be found to be stable over time - Like Cattell, Eysenck also used factor analysis with his theory. Eysenck believed that factors themselves are subjected to additional analysis to discover these...
- superfactors or types
- Like Cattell, Eysenck also used factor analysis with his theory. Eysenck believed that factors themselves are subjected to additional analysis to discover these...
- superfactors or types
- low ARAS
high VB - neurotic extrovert
- low ARAS
low VB - normal extrovert
- the emotional, motivational, and non-ability related cognitive aspects of behavior
*The focus of Eysenck\'s formal theory of personality. - temperament
- these particular types of people are often experience symptoms of hysteria or some other external form
- Neurotic extrovert
\'hysteric\'- refers to the disordered neurotic extrovert - these types of people are usually characterized by symptoms of anxiety, sensitivity & fatigue
(also called Dysthymic)
- Neurotic Introvert
