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Block 3 Unit 3 Hans Eysenck: A Trait Type Theory of Personality

1. What are the different Ayurvedic type personality?

Three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

2. What are Jungian personality types?

Four personality functions underlying Jung's typology: Extroversion/Introversion, Intuition/Sensing, Thinking/Feeling, and Judgement/Perception.

3. Elucidate the Trait Type theory of personality by Eysenck.

Eysenck's theory emphasizes a hierarchical model of personality, with types (superfactors), traits, habits, and specific responses.

4. Describe the neurophysiological basis of trait and types.

Eysenck suggested that Extraversion is related to cortical arousal, neuroticism is related to visceral activation, and psychoticism is linked to gonadal hormones.

5. Discuss the Type theory of personality highlighting the characteristic features

Type theories aim to classify people into distinct categories, such as "this type or that", emphasizing discontinuity between categories.

6. How does type theory differ from trait theory of personality?

Type theory classifies people into distinct categories, while trait theory places people on a continuum of traits.

7. Discuss Jungian Personality types and indicate how the EPQ was devised.

Jungian types are based on functions, and the sources say that Eysenck developed the EPQ to assess traits not based on Jung.

8. Elucidate Eysenck’s trait type theory of personality.

Eysenck’s theory integrates types and traits in a hierarchy, with superfactors, traits, habits, and specific responses. It is measured by questionnaires such as the EPQ.

9. Give neurophysiological explanations for neuroticism, exteraversion and psychoticism.

Eysenck linked Extraversion to cortical arousal, Neuroticism to visceral activation, and Psychoticism to gonadal hormones.

10. How do you measure personality according to Eysenck?

Eysenck uses self-report questionnaires like the EPQ to assess individual differences associated with his three dimensions of personality.

11. What are the basic personality types?

Extraversion, Introversion, Neuroticism and Psychoticism.

12. Differentiate between extraversion and introversion personality types.

Extraversion is characterised by sociability, impulsivity and excitability, while introversion is marked by reserve, control and introspection.

13. Discuss the Type theory of personality

Type Theory of Personality

Type theory aims to classify people into distinct categories, or types. These types are considered synonymous with "personality styles". In type theory, people are placed into discrete, all-or-nothing categories. For example, a person may be classified as either a humorous type or a drab type; there is a discontinuity between the types. The person is either one type or the other.

14. What are the characteristic features of type theory of personality? How Type Theory of Personality is different from trait theory?

Characteristic Features of Type Theory

• Categories are distinct and discontinuous: Type theories assume that individuals fit into separate and distinct categories. There is an either/or approach where a person is one type or another, with no overlap between categories.
• Emphasis on qualitative differences: Type theories focus on the qualitative differences in personality, rather than the quantitative differences. They suggest that people differ in the kinds or qualities of personality traits they possess rather than the degree to which they possess a trait.

Difference Between Type and Trait Theory

• Continuity vs Discontinuity: Type theory assumes separate and discontinuous categories into which persons fit, while trait theory assumes that there are continuous dimensions that vary in quality and degree. In trait theory, a person can be anywhere on a continuum ranging from one trait to another, whereas in type theory, a person belongs to one distinct category or type.
• Measurement: Trait theory uses quantitative measures to describe and measure the degree to which a person possesses a trait, while type theory classifies people into categories based on their overall pattern of characteristics.
• Uniqueness: Type theories may rob the uniqueness of persons by placing them into a preconceived category, whereas trait theories allow for individual variation along a continuum.

15. Elucidate Sheldon’s somatotype personality.

Sheldon's Somatotype Personality

William Sheldon identified three main types of personality, each corresponding to a particular body build, called somatotypes. These are:

• Endomorph: Characterised by a plump and buxom body build. They are also referred to as viscerotonic with a relaxed, sociable, tolerant, comfort-loving, and peaceful temperament.
• Mesomorph: Characterised by a muscular and strong body build. They are generally active, assertive, vigorous, and combative.
• Ectomorph: Characterised by a lean and delicate body build with poor muscle development. They are quiet, fragile, restrained, non-assertive, and sensitive.

Sheldon noted that no person is purely one type, but a combination of all three, rating each person on a scale of 1 to 7 for each body type. He concluded that delinquent boys were generally mesomorphs.

16. Give examples of endomorphic, ectomorphic and mesomorphic type personality.

Examples of Somatotypes

• Endomorph: Someone who is relaxed, enjoys social gatherings, and is fond of food and comfort.
• Mesomorph: A person who is athletic, enjoys physical activity, and is assertive in their interactions.
• Ectomorph: An individual who is reserved, intellectual, and enjoys solitary pursuits.

17. How will you compare Ayurvedic type personality with Sheldon’s somatotype?

Comparison of Ayurvedic and Sheldon's Somatotype

Both Ayurvedic and Sheldon's systems attempt to relate physical characteristics to temperament. While Sheldon's somatotypes focus on body build, the Ayurvedic system focuses on three fundamental energies or doshas that govern physical and mental processes. They are:

• Vata: Characterized by being thin, light, and quick; active, restless, and creative; prone to anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia.
• Pitta: Characterised by being medium build, with a warm body and strong digestion; intelligent, ambitious, and passionate; prone to anger, irritability, and inflammation.
• Kapha: Characterised by being solid, heavy, and strong with slow digestion; calm, loyal, and patient; prone to weight gain, allergies, and sinus problems.

18. What are Jungian personality types?

Jungian Personality Types

Carl Jung proposed that people have preferred ways of behaving based on four functions:

• Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I): How one recharges energy, either through external contact and activity (E), or internal reflection (I).
• Intuition (N) or Sensing (S): How one perceives information, either through inner voice and hunches (N) or observation and detail (S).
• Thinking (T) or Feeling (F): How decisions are made, either through logic and analysis (T) or emotions and values (F).
• Judgement (J) or Perception (P): How one orients to the external world, through rational planning and control (J) or flexibility and spontaneity (P).

19. Explain Myer Briggs 16 personality types.

Myers-Briggs 16 Personality Types

Based on Jung's functions, Myers-Briggs developed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) which identifies 16 personality types. Each type is a combination of one preference from each of the four dimensions (E/I, S/N, T/F, J/P), such as:

• ISTJ (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging): Organised, practical, and detail-oriented.
• ISTP (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving): Analytical, adaptable, and hands-on.
• ISFP (Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving): Creative, sensitive, and artistic.
• ISFJ (Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging): Compassionate, reliable, and supportive.

20. What are Type A and Type B personality types?

Type A and Type B Personalities

Type A and Type B personalities are two distinct patterns of behaviour.

• Type A: Characterised by being ambitious, competitive, impatient, time-conscious, and often hostile.
• Type B: Characterised by being more relaxed, patient, less competitive, and generally more easygoing.

21. What were the three personality types put forward by J. Block?

J. Block's Personality Types

J. Block proposed three personality types:

• Overcontrollers: These individuals are highly controlled, anxious, and tend to inhibit their impulses.
• Undercontrollers: These individuals are impulsive, have difficulty regulating their emotions, and may act out aggressively.
• Resilients: These individuals are well-adjusted and adaptable, able to balance their emotions and behaviours.

22. What is meant by Hierarchical Taxonomy? How is personality types conceived of by Eysenck in terms of the taxonomy?

Eysenck's Hierarchical Taxonomy

Eysenck viewed personality as hierarchically organised, consisting of types, traits, habits, and specific responses.

• Types (Superfactors): The most abstract level of the hierarchy, based on clusters of intercorrelated traits.
• Traits: Broad, stable characteristics inferred from intercorrelated habitual responses.
• Habits: Regularly occurring responses.
• Specific Responses: Single actions or thoughts.

He believed that types (also known as supertraits) were needed to account for most of human behavior.

23. What are the three dimensions of personality?

Eysenck's Three Dimensions of Personality

Eysenck identified three major dimensions of personality, also called supertraits:

• Extraversion/Introversion: This dimension reflects the degree to which a person is sociable, outgoing, and active (extraversion) or reserved, quiet, and introspective (introversion).
• Neuroticism/Stability: This dimension reflects the degree to which a person is emotionally unstable, anxious, and moody (neuroticism) or calm, stable, and emotionally controlled (stability).
• Psychoticism/Impulse Control: This dimension reflects the degree to which a person is insensitive, hostile, and at times cruel (psychoticism) or empathetic, cooperative, and sensitive (superego strength).

24. Define and describe the causal aspects of personality according to Eysenck.

Causal Aspects of Personality According to Eysenck

Eysenck believed that personality is largely determined by genes, with environmental factors having a smaller role. He proposed that the dimensions of personality are linked to specific neurophysiological mechanisms and believed that these dimensions are not just descriptive but have a causal basis. He developed the inhibition theory to explain why people differing along various dimensions should behave differently from one another. Later, this theory was replaced by arousal theory which suggested that differences in the behaviour of introverts and extraverts are due to the various parts of the Ascending Reticular Activating System (ARAS) in the nervous system.

25. How does Eysenck explain extraversion in terms of neurophysiological explanation

Neurophysiological Explanation of Extraversion

According to Eysenck, extraversion is closely related to levels of cortical arousal as indicated by electroencephalographic recordings. He believed that introverts are over-aroused and highly sensitive to incoming stimulation, which leads them to avoid overwhelming situations. Extraverts, on the other hand, are under-aroused and seek external stimulation to increase their arousal levels.

26. How is Neuroticism explained in terms neurophysiological mechanism?

Neurophysiological Explanation of Neuroticism

Eysenck linked neuroticism to visceral activation, or the degree to which the limbic system is activated. He believed that individuals high in neuroticism have a more reactive limbic system, which makes them prone to experiencing negative emotions and emotional instability. Individuals low in neuroticism have a stable nervous system that allows them to remain calm and emotionally stable.

27. How does Eysenck connect psychoticism to Gonadal hormones. Explain?

Psychoticism and Gonadal Hormones

Eysenck suggested that psychoticism is linked to gonadal hormones, particularly androgens like testosterone. He believed that higher levels of these hormones are associated with increased aggressiveness, impulsivity, and lack of empathy, which are all characteristics associated with psychoticism.