Eysenck and Personality

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Eysenck and Personality
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Eysenck and Personality

• Eysenck believed that personality has a
  biological explanation.
• He believed that there are dimensions of
  personality

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Dimensions of Personality

• Extraversion --- Introversion (E)
• Neuroticism --- Stability (N)
• Psychoticism --- Normality (P)

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Dimensions of Personality
Neurotic
Extravert
Introvert
Stable
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Dimensions of Personality
Neurotic
Position on the scales Would be determined Via
the EPQ (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire)
Extravert
Introvert
Stable
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Dimensions of Personality
Neurotic
Position on the scales Would be determined Via
the EPQ (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire)
Extravert
Introvert
X
A person with a low E score and a slightly Low N
score would be At X
Stable
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Eysenck Personality

• Eysenck found that the rate of flip of a Necker
  Cube diagram was correlated with high E scores.

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Eysenck Personality

• The cube appears to flip because our perception
  processes are trying to interpret the image
  either coming out of the page or going in.
• The rate of flip depends on how fast our
  processes are working, which in turn can depend
  on our genetic make up.

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Extraverts

• Extraverts need stimulation, which they actively
  seek.
• Unfortunately, this may lead to aggression and
  poor emotional control.

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Introverts

• Introverts dont need so much stimulation.
• Tend to be calmer, prefer less noise, reserved.

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Neuroticism - stability

• Eysenck believed the neuroticism stability
  dimension was a function of the effect of the
  Autonomic Nervous System.
• High N score tended to be associated with people
  who are jumpy, anxious, cant cope easily with
  stress

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Neuroticism - stability

• Stable personality emotionally calm, not easily
  panicked. Respond to emergencies in a controlled
  manner

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Think of someone you know well. Try and place
them on this grid. Where would they fit on the E
and N scales?
Neurotic
Extravert
Introvert
Stable
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Criminal Personality

• Extraversion associated with criminality because
• Quick temper, aggression
• Need for excitement, take risks and find new and
  dangerous experiences
• Difficult to condition (whats this?) so do not
  conform to rules.

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Criminal Personality

• Neuroticism associated with criminality because
• Easy to fall into habitual behaviour (if it
  works, then repeat it) which may be antisocial.
• Likelihood of anxiety reaction, will act
  antisocially if it reduces anxiety.

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Criminal Personality
Neurotic
Extravert
Introvert
Stable
Where would a criminal X be on this grid?
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Psychoticism - normality

• Eysenck did not really research this more to be
  done!