PSYC 2740 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Reward Dependence, Neurotransmitter, Sensation Seeking
6 Jul 2018
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PSYC 2470: Personality Psychology
Chapter 7: Physiological Approaches to Personality
A Physiological Approach to Personality
Environmental conditions (loud parties) can have an affect personality traits (introversion) to produce a
particular physiological response (overwhelmed) which then promotes a behavioural response (avoidance)
Theoretical bridge: which traits are connected to which psychological reaction under which condition or
in response to which stimuli. Connection of two different variables (personality and physiological
variables)
Physiological Measures Commonly Used in Personality Research
Obtained from
Electrodes: sensors placed on the surface of the skin
Telemetry: electrical signals are sent from the participant to the polygraph through radio waves instead
of by wires
Electrodermal Activity (Skin Conductance)
Autonomic nervous system: fight or flight
Electrodermal activity (skin conductance): two electrodes are placed on the palm of one hand. Low
shock put in the skin and the researcher records how much electricity is present in the other electrode. The
difference in electricity tells researchers how well the skin is conducting electricity
Heavily anxious or neurotic persons sympathetic nervous system is chronically activated
Cardiovascular Activity
Heart and blood vessels
Blood pressure
Heart rate
Cardiac reactivity: increase in heart rate and blood pressure in response to stress
Type A personality; behaviour characterized by impatience, competitiveness and hostility
Brain Activity
EEG (electrophalogram): measures brain activity in sleep
Evoked potential technique: tone or flash and researcher assesses reactivity
PET scan (positron emission tomography)
fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)
Other Measures
Biochemical analysis of blood and saliva
Physiological Based Theories of Personality
Extraversion-Introversion
Eyseneck
oAccording reticular activating system (ARAS): structure in the brain stem thought to control
overall cortical arousal
oArousal level
oIntroverts have higher resting cortical levels (are quitter to keep the heightened cortical in check)
oExtraverts engaged in more outgoing activities to increase their cortical levels
Arousability: arousal response
Sensibility to Reward and Punishment
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Document Summary
Environmental conditions (loud parties) can have an affect personality traits (introversion) to produce a particular physiological response (overwhelmed) which then promotes a behavioural response (avoidance) Theoretical bridge: which traits are connected to which psychological reaction under which condition or in response to which stimuli. Connection of two different variables (personality and physiological variables) Electrodes: sensors placed on the surface of the skin. Telemetry: electrical signals are sent from the participant to the polygraph through radio waves instead of by wires. Electrodermal activity (skin conductance): two electrodes are placed on the palm of one hand. Low shock put in the skin and the researcher records how much electricity is present in the other electrode. The difference in electricity tells researchers how well the skin is conducting electricity. Heavily anxious or neurotic persons sympathetic nervous system is chronically activated. Cardiac reactivity: increase in heart rate and blood pressure in response to stress. Type a personality; behaviour characterized by impatience, competitiveness and hostility.
