Psychology 305: Theories of Personality Lecture 8

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Psychology 305: Theories of Personality

Lecture 8

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Announcement

I will hold additional office hours in preparation for the midterm exam:

Tuesday, June 7th: 2:30-4:30 Wednesday, June 8th: 2:00-4:00Thursday, June 9th: 11:00-12:30

Midterm Exam: June 9th, 2011

• The exam will be scored out of 50 points:

30 multiple choice questions (1 point each)7 short answer questions (ranging in value from 2 to 4

points, totaling 20 points)

• Please arrive on time to facilitate rapid distribution of the exams.

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• Bring a pencil, eraser, pen, and your student ID to the exam.

• All electronic devices must be put away before the start of the exam.

• Bags and backpacks should be left at the front of the room. Please do not bring valuables to the exam.

• Hats (e.g., baseball caps) should not be worn during the exam.

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Lecture 8

Questions That Will be Answered in Today’s Lecture

1. What does contemporary research suggest about the physiological basis of sensation seeking?

By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:

1. describe Zuckerman’s theory of the physiological basis of sensation-seeking.

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What does contemporary research suggest about

the physiological basis of sensation seeking?

• Sensation seeking refers to the tendency to seek out varied, novel activities that are both exciting and risky.

• The term “sensation seeking” (SS) was coined by Marvin Zuckerman (1965), who developed the

Sensation Seeking Scale to measure this characteristic.

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Examples of Items from the Sensation Seeking Scale

I sometimes like to do things that are a little frightening.

A sensible person avoids activities that are dangerous. *

I like to have new and exciting experiences and sensations even if they are frightening, unconventional, or illegal.

Almost everything enjoyable is illegal or immoral.

I get bored seeing the same old faces.

I like the comfortable familiarity of everyday friends. *

* Reverse-scored items.

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• Zuckerman (1991) maintains that SS is physiologically based. Consistent with this assertion, he found that individuals who were high in SS had relatively low levels of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in their blood.

• MAO is an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that enable the transmission of nerve impulses from one cell to another.

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MAO breaks down neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft.

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• Zuckerman maintains that the low levels of MAO in sensation seekers results in relatively high levels of neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine) within the nervous system. The high levels of neurotransmitters, in turn, cause a “disinhibition” of the nervous system, resulting in less control over behaviour, thought, and emotion.

• Thus, MAO act as a “brake,” diminishing or inhibitingneurotransmission.

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Analysis of the Personality of a Serial Killer

Jeffrey Dahmer: Discussion Questions

1. How would you expect Jeffrey Dahmer to score on the personality dimensions identified by (a) Eysenck, (b) Wiggins, and (c) Big 5 theorists?

2. Can a diathesis-stress model be used to explain the onset of Jeffrey Dahmer’s antisocial behaviour?

3. What needs do you think motivated Jeffrey Dahmer’s behaviour? Consider both Murray’s needs and the “Big Three.”

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Discussion Questions, continued

4. Can evolutionary psychology offer explanations for antisocial behaviour, psychopathy, cannibalism, and/or necrophilia?

5. Which characteristics do you think Jeffrey Dahmer may have inherited?

6. How do you think Jeffrey Dahmer would score on the temperaments identified by Buss and Plomin?

7. Speculate upon the physiological causes of antisocial personality disorder or psychopathy.

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Eysenck’s Major Personality Dimensions

Emotionally Stable Emotionally Unstable

Introvert PassiveThoughtfulPeaceful AControlledReliableCalm

QuietPessimisticUnsociable BMoodyAnxiousReserved

Extravert SociableOutgoingTalkative CResponsiveEasygoingCarefree

ActiveOptimisticImpulsive DExcitableAggressiveRestless

A = Phlegmatic; B = Melancholic; C = Sanguine; D = Choleric

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Wiggins’ Interpersonal Circle

Warm-agreeable

Cold-hearted

Unassured-submissive

Assured-dominant

Aloof-introverted

Unassuming-ingenuous

Gregarious-extraverted

Arrogant-calculating

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• Extraversion:

• Conscientiousness:

• Agreeableness:

• Openness to Experience:

• Neuroticism:

Low

High

Low

Low

Low

The Big 5 Dimensions

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Some Heritable Personality Characteristics

• The Big 5: H

Extraversion …………………………………………… .50

Conscientiousness…………………………………….. .49

Agreeableness ………………………………………... .48

Openness to Experience ………………………….…. .48

Neuroticism ……………………………………………. .49

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• Characteristics related to psychopathy: H

Fearlessness …………………………………………… > .95

Carefree Nonplanfulness (i.e., impulsiveness)……... .94

Machiavellianism (i.e., enjoys manipulating others)... .74

Social potency (i.e., skilled at influencing others) …. .66

Aggressiveness ……………………………………….. .67

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Contemporary Measures of Psychopathy:

1. Psychopathic Personality Inventory

Self-report measure.

187 items, scored with a 4-point scale ranging from 1 (false) to 4 (true).

Consists of 8 factors: Machiavellian egocentricity, social potency, fearlessness, coldheartedness, impulse nonconformity, blame externalization, carefree nonplanfulness, and stress immunity.

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2. Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)

Instrument used by trained clinicians.

Assesses 20 symptoms associated with psychopathy. Each symptom is scored from 0 – 2 (0 = definitely does not apply to the person, 2 = definitely does apply to the person).

Consists of 2 factors: Affective/interpersonal features and behavioural features.

Maximum score: 40. A score of 30 is indicative of the presence of psychopathy.

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DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria forAsperger’s Disorder

A. Impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least 2 of the following:

1. Marked impairment in the use of nonverbal behaviours (e.g., eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures).

2. Failure to develop peer relationships.3. Lack of spontaneous seeking to share interests,

enjoyment, or achievements with other people.4. Lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

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Criteria for Asperger’s Disorder, continued

B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least 1 of the following:

1. Restricted patterns of interest that are abnormal either in intensity or focus.

2. Inflexible adherence to nonfunctional routines or rituals.

3. Repetitive and stereotyped motor mannerisms.4. Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

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Criteria for Asperger’s Disorder, continued

C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

D. There is no clinically significant delay in general language.

E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or the development of age-appropriate self-help skills.