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1 Psychology 305A: Personality Psychology February 11 Lecture 10
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Psychology 305A: Personality Psychology February 11 Lecture 10

Jan 04, 2016

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Psychology 305A: Personality Psychology February 11 Lecture 10. Announcements. 1. The grades for the first midterm exam are now available on the course website. The mean score was 68% (SD = 18%, range = 23% – 96%). 2. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Page 1: Psychology 305A:  Personality Psychology February 11 Lecture 10

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Psychology 305A: Personality Psychology

February 11

Lecture 10

Page 2: Psychology 305A:  Personality Psychology February 11 Lecture 10

Announcements

1. The grades for the first midterm exam are now available on the course website. The mean score was

68% (SD = 18%, range = 23% – 96%).

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Page 3: Psychology 305A:  Personality Psychology February 11 Lecture 10

2. The TAs are available during their office hours or by appointment to meet with you to review your exam:

Daniel (TA for students with last names A-M):E-mail address: [email protected] office hours: Mondays, 2:00-3:00, Kenny

3605  Extra office hours:

Tuesday, February 11, 12:30-2:00, Kenny 3605Monday, February 17 (reading week): 2:00-3:00,

Kenny 3605

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Sam (TA for students with last names N-Z):E-mail address: [email protected] office hours: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, Kenny 2011Extra office hours: Tuesday, February 11, 2:30-3:30, Kenny 2563Wednesday, February 12, 10:30-11:30, Kenny 2563Thursday, February 13, 3:00-4:00, Kenny 2563Monday February 17, 11:00-12:00, Kenny 2011Thursday, February 27, 9:30-10:30, Kenny 2011

Note that, due to travel, Sam will not be available on Tuesday, February 18 and Tuesday, February 25.

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The peer mentors (Austin, Gordon) will hold a tutorial tomorrow (February 12):

When? 3:00-4:00Where? Kenny 2510

Reminder

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A little R&R ….(Review and Reflect)

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A book recommended by a classmate:Title: The Age of Empathy, Nature's Lessons for a Kinder Society Author: Frans de WaalPublisher: Harmony BooksYear of publication: 2009

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The Biological Perspective

1. What does contemporary research suggest about the physiological basis of (a) extraversion, (b) sensitivity to reward and punishment, and (c) sensation seeking?

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2. What other physiological systems have been linked to personality?

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

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1. describe Eysenck’s theory of the physiological basis of extraversion.

2. review evidence regarding Eysenck’s theory of the physiological basis of extraversion.

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3. distinguish between the BAS and BIS.

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

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4. discuss the roles of the BAS and BIS in learning and psychopathology.

5. define the term sensation seeking.

7. identify other structures, neurotransmitters, and hormones associated with personality.

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What does contemporary research suggest about the physiological basis of extraversion?

• Eysenck (1987) theorized that the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) contributes to individual differences in extraversion.

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• The ARAS is in the brainstem and acts as a gateway:

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High levels of ARAS activity result in high levels of cortical arousal.

Low levels of ARAS activity result in low levels of cortical arousal.

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• Eysenck suggested that introverts have relatively high levels of ARAS activity and, therefore, cortical arousal.

• In order to avoid further arousal, introverts restrain themselves, seek low-stimulation settings, and avoid social interactions.

• That is, introverts engage in activities that regulate their levels of arousal downward.

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• Extraverts have relatively low levels of ARAS activity and, therefore, cortical arousal.

• In order to enhance their levels of arousal, extraverts seek high-stimulation experiences, settings, and social interactions.

• That is, extraverts engage in activities that regulate their levels of arousal upward.

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• fMRI studies (e.g., Gray & Braver, 2002; Gray et al., 2005) suggest that extraverts and introverts do differ in cortical arousal.

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Extraverts and introverts differ in arousability rather than their baseline levels of cortical arousal.

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What does contemporary research suggest about the physiological basis of sensitivity to reward and punishment?

• Gray (1972, 1990, 2000) theorized that two physiological systems contribute to individual differences in sensitivity to reward and punishment:

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The behavioural activation system (or behavioural approach system; BAS) and the behavioural inhibition system (or avoidance/withdrawal system; BIS).

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• EEG studies suggest that the BAS is located in the left prefrontal cortex and the BIS is located in the right prefrontal cortex (DeYoung & Gray, 2009; Hewig et al., 2004; Schackman et al., 2009).

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• The BAS is responsive to rewards or incentives, generates positive emotions (e.g., eagerness, excitement), and regulates “approach” behaviours.

• E.g., A child who hears an ice cream truck approaching.

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• The BAS is linked to dopamine levels.

• Accordingly, the BAS also contributes to individual differences in extraversion (see Davidson, 2003;

Knutson & Bhanji, 2006; Pickering et al., 1999).

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• The BIS is responsive to punishment or frustration, generates negative emotions (e.g., anxiety, fear), and regulates “avoidance” behaviours.

• E.g., A child who is shouting and receives a stern glance from her mother.

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• The BIS is linked to serotonin, GABA, and norephinephrine levels.

• Accordingly, the BIS also contributes to individual differences in neuroticism (see Davidson, 2003;

Knutson & Bhanji, 2006; Pickering et al., 1999).

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BAS/BIS Survey

Score on items:

• 1, 4, 7, 10, 12, 15, 19 = BIS Sensitivity

• 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 = BAS Sensitivity: Reward Responsiveness

• 9, 11, 13, 18 = BAS Sensitivity: Drive

• 14, 16, 17, 20 = BAS Sensitivity: Fun Seeking

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• The 3 BAS sensitivity subscales are:

Reward responsiveness: Assesses how responsive one is to the occurrence or anticipation of rewards.

Drive: Assesses the persistence with which one pursues desired goals.

Fun seeking: Assesses one’s desire for new rewards and one’s willingness to approach potentially

rewarding events on the spur of the moment.

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BAS/BIS Sensitivity Survey Means and Standard Deviations (Carver & White, 1994), N = 732

Mean SD

BIS Sensitivity 19.99 3.70

BAS Sensitivity: RewardResponsiveness 17.59 2.14

BAS Sensitivity: Drive 12.05 2.36

BAS Sensitivity: Fun Seeking 12.43 2.26

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• Gray integrated his theory with learning theory and generated the following hypotheses.

(a) People with a sensitive BAS are more likely to learn when they are rewarded than when they are punished.

(b) People with a sensitive BIS are more likely to learn when they are punished than when they are rewarded.

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E.g., Larsen et al. (2003)

• Had participants engage in a learning task.

• Some participants were rewarded for each correct response, earning $10 over the course of the experiment.

• Other participants were punished for each incorrect response; they were given $20 and lost $10 over the course of the experiment.

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• Found that:

(b) participants with high BIS sensitivity performed better when they worked to avoid punishment.

(a) participants with high BAS sensitivity performed better when they worked for reward.

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• Theorists have suggested that the BAS and BIS may play roles in psychopathology: anxiety disorders, depression, psychopathy.

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

• Sensation seeking (SS) refers to the tendency to seek out varied, novel activities that are both exciting and risky:

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Sample 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 (1994, 1996; also see Ruchkin et al., 2005) theorized that individuals who are high in SS have relatively low levels of monoamine oxidase (MAO).

• MAO is an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters.

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MAO breaks down neurotransmitters.

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• Relatively low levels of MAO in sensation seekers result in relatively high levels of dopamine in the nervous system.

• Thus, MAO act as a “brake,” inhibiting neuro-transmission.

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High levels of dopamine cause “disinhibition” of the nervous system: less control over behaviour, thought, and emotion.

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What other physiological systems have been linked to personality?

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Structures of the Brain37

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Structures of the Brain38

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

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1. describe Eysenck’s theory of the physiological basis of extraversion.

2. review evidence regarding Eysenck’s theory of the physiological basis of extraversion.

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3. distinguish between the BAS and BIS.

Page 40: Psychology 305A:  Personality Psychology February 11 Lecture 10

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

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4. discuss the roles of the BAS and BIS in learning and psychopathology.

5. define the term sensation seeking.

7. identify other structures, neurotransmitters, and hormones associated with personality.