PSY 216 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Guppy, Extraversion And Introversion, Takers
Document Summary
Personality theories are largely interested in individual differences. Natural selection supports circuits (mechanisms) that produce adaptive traits, less adaptive ones should die out. Personality traits (the big 5) signal to other people (potential mates) something about our ability to solve survival and reproductive problems. We probably have evolved circuits (mechanisms) to perceive these traits. Extroversion/surgency engage with confidence, sociable, competitive, often leaders, risk takers, produce more children. Agreeableness fosters group cohesion, survival of the group. Emotional stability fear and anxiety is adaptive in a dangerous environment. Conscientiousness reliable, including care for offspring, a signal of a desirable mate or group member. Openness new experiences, explore new territory, useful in finding food and shelter. Some possibilities have been suggested for the existence of individual differences. Note your book does not explain this well. Personality traits are influenced by many, many genes. Some random variation (noise) is to be expected.
