Eysenck's Biological Typology
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Germany and moved to England when the Nazis came to power.
Worked with Cyril Burt and Charles Spearman.
At Maudsley Hospital he saw the shortcomings of clinical training and practice.
Wrote a scathing critique of psychotherapy and esp. psychoanalysis.
Produced 80 books, countless chapters ,and over 1,000 articles.
Wife, Sybil, and son, Michael, are also noted psychologists.
CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES
Definition of personality - “stable and enduring organization of character, temperament, intellect, and physique.”
"Typology" - "types" in this chapter are the 3 primary dimensions (factors) of
neuroticism, introversion-extraversion, and psychoticism,
use of the term "TYPE" here is really incorrect as these are continuous "factors" or "traits."
Hierarchical organization -(model) from most to least important: 1. type, 2. trait,
3. habitual response, and 4. specific response levels.
Primary personality constructs - Neuroticism (emotional stability) and Introversion-Extraversion, later he added Psychoticism.
Eysenck Personality Inventory EPI (assesses N and I-E)
Eysenck Personality Questionnaire EPQ (assesses N, I-E, and P).
Psychoticism, Schizophrenia and genius - (e.g., Gauss), there are similarities between
(some) schizophrenics, psychopaths, and geniuses (e.g., divergent thinking).
divergent thinking - is thinking in unusual and non-traditional ways.
Basis of Introversion - Extraversion
early inhibition theory - the brains of extraverts react weakly to stimuli and quickly build up ”reactive inhibition"….
….(they habituate) quickly.” So, they bore easily and are “stimulus hungry.”
The brains of introverts react strongly to stimuli and tend NOT to build up "reactive inhibition" (they don't habituate).
So, they are highly sensitive to stimuli of all types (e.g., sound) and can tolerate only low levels.
later arousal theory - extraverts are less “cortically aroused” so
they need higher levels of stimulation to achieve “positive hedonic tone.”
Introverts are cortically "over-aroused" and need low levels of stimulation to achieve "positive hedonic tone."
The ARAS also plays a role in individual differences on I-E.
Both inhibition theory and arousal theory predict that introverts condition (classically
and operantly) quickly and strongly. They quickly learn the consequences of actions....
….Extraverts tend NOT to condition as quickly or easily. They don't learn consequences of their actions as strongly or quickly.
Basis of Neuroticism
depends on responsivity of the “limbic system” (visceral brain) and sympathetic (autonomic) nervous system....
....High Ns react strongly to "EVENTS", don’t habituate easily, recover slowly, and are generally less “stable” than those low on N.
Basis of Psychoticism - Eysenck assumed psychoticism to be related to androgens (testosterone) because (1) men score higher than women on P and,
(2) men are more
likely to be criminals and psychopaths. Those high on "P" tend to be cruel, selfish,
insensitive, and hostile, (possibly creative?)
PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
Like Cattell, Eysenck believes individual differences in N, I-E, and P are strongly rooted
in heredity and biology. Environment also plays a role.
Interactions of the Primary traits and Socialization
recall - high neuroticism causes one to experience environmental events strongly....
....neurotic introverts - learn (condition) too easily, are "over-socialized" and
are prone to depression, anxiety, phobias, obsessions (“disorders of the first kind”)....
....In Freudian terms they are all "Superego."
neurotic extraverts - Don't learn (condition) well and are "under-socialized" and are prone
to impulsive, risk-taking, and possibly antisocial behaviors....
....(“disorders of the second kind”). In Freudian terms they are all "ID."
psychoticism - seems to operate more independently.
INTELLIGENCE, HEREDITY, AND SOCIAL POLICY
Eysenck felt it "abundantly clear" that people differ in personality traits and in intelligence.
Social policy - Eysenck favors acknowledging that people are NOT genetically equal. However, he did NOT support "eugenics" which was popular at the time....
....He did favor a "MERITOCRACY" (educational and occupational opportunities based on ability, not quotas).
ASSESMENT TECHNIQUES
Eysenck did much experimental research to support his ideas (ex. assessing intellect
via EEG)....
....More intelligent people showed stronger "evoked potentials" in response to
auditory and visual stimuli (Leon Kamin questions EEG as a measure of IQ and I agree).
other experimental methods used by Eysenck - electrodermal response (GSR),
pupillary response (changes in the dilation of the eye that accompany arousal),
and "eyeblink conditioning" in which a puff of air to the eye accompanies a light or tone.
THEORY'S IMPLICATIONS FOR THERAPY
Eysenck’s views on therapy - Initially he seemed to be a harsh critic of psychoanalysis and other methods,
LATER, he became a strong supporter of behavior therapy.
It is interesting how N - I/E combinations relate to
1. the Freudian personality divisions of id and superego.
2. Hippocrates’ (Kant’s) four personality “types:
A. melancholic - neurotic introverts
B. choleric - neurotic extraverts
C. phlegmatic - stable introverts
D. sanguine - stable extraverts
Evaluation:
Overall, he gets high marks!
Heuristic value - the current "five factor model" owes more to Eysenck than to anyone else.