PSY 0160 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Jerome Kagan, Phineas Gage, Frontal Lobe
Document Summary
Phineas gage indicated bio tie between parts of the brain and parts of functioning/personality. Temperament: biologically based individual differences in emotional and motivational tendencies that are evident in early life. Phrenology: specific areas of the brain are responsible for specific emotional and behavioral functions. Longitudinal studies: study people repeatedly over their lifetime. Links early temperaments with similar or consequent behaviors in adulthood. Observed kids directly instead of relying on parent reports. Inhibited (timid, cautious, avoidant) vs uninhibited (relaxed, enjoyed new situations) profiles. These personalities were fairly stable over time but also showed change. Extent to which even highly reactive kids could adapt to sounds and situations depended on their parenting style exposure. Amygdala: fear response (and protein called stathmin) emotions. Proximate causes: refers to biological processes operating in the organism at the time the behavior is observed. Ultimate causes: explains why a given biological mechanism is part of the organism and why is responds to envt in a given way.
