PSYC 2740 Lecture : Ch_7_notes
20 May 2014
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The idea that elements of personality are products of the biological processes has been around for ages. In a. d. 170, ancient roman physician galen wrote that personality or character was influenced by biology. He taught the body-fluid theory: the amounts of four fluids present in the body determined personality. An abundance of: phlegm = passive, calm, thoughtful (phlegmatic, blood = happy, outgoing, lively (sanguine, yellow bile = unstable, aggressive, excitable (choleric, black bile = unhappy, pessimistic, somber (melancholic) The body-fluid theory of personality remained in favour for centuries, influencing philosophers and early psychologists. Although antiquated by today"s understanding of physiology and medicine, galen"s theory is noteworthy as one of the first to take a physiological approach to personality. Most physiological personality psychologists today use measures of distinct physiological systems such as heart rate or brain waves. Chapter 7: physiological approaches to personality specific personality characteristic (shyness) specific physiological response (anxiety) specific physiological indicator (heart rate)
