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Hans J Eysenck's approach to personality

H. J. Eysenck approaches to personality this century method is factor analysis. In his origin model (EPI) Eysenck measured two dimensions of personality Intoversion-extraversion and neuroticsim (stability - instability). according to Eysenck this theory fits in very well with the theory of temperaments we looked at earlier.Why these three dimensions? Remember that factor analysis gives us many solutions to a factor matrix. Eysenck argues for the psychological reality of his dimensions by linking them to physiological mechanisms and by making predictions which can be tested experimentally. Later he incorporated a scale to measure psychoticism.

VERSION	SCALES	COMMENTS
MAUDSLEY MEDICAL QUESTIONNAIRE MMQ (1959)	Neuroticisn	Clinical sample
MAUDSLEY PERSONALITY INVENTORY MPI (1959)	Neuroticism and extraversion	Added extraversion scale taken form Guilford
EYSENCK PERSONALITY INVENTORY EPI (1964)	Extraversion Neuroticism Lie-scale	Factor analysis used to purify scale
EYSENCK PERSONALITY QUESTIONNAIRE EPQ (1975)	Extraversion Neuroticism Psychoticism Lie-scale	Addition of psychoticism dimension

DIMENSION	DESCRIPTION	BIOLOGICAL SUB-SYSTEM	EVIDENCE FROM DRUG ACTION	BEHAVIORAL EVIDENCE
INTROVERSION- EXTRAVERSION	sociable lively active assertive sensation-seeking carefree dominant surgent venturesome	Central Nervous System Arousal of the Reticular Activating System	alcohol ritalin	Wilson (1990) Introverts show higher levels of arousal than extroverts Extroverts show increased arousal in the evening as they engage in stimulating activities.
NEUROTICISM-STABILITY	anxious depressed guilt feelings low self-esteem tense irrational shy moody emotional	AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM Lability of the ANS (System concerned with digestion, breathing etc The autonomic system of the neurotic is highly unstable and reactive.	Anti-anxiolytic drugs	bio-feedback
PSYCHOTICISM-IMPULSE CONTROL	aggressive cold egocentric impersonal impulsive antisocial unempathic creative tough minded	Hormone levels		&nsbp;

Extraversion has been related to the arousability of the nervous system Neuroticism to the lability of the autonomic nervous system Psychoticism related to androgen level Extravert is low on arousal - stimulus hunger - low threshold for boredom Intravert is highly aroused - any stimulation is over stimulation Neurotic - rapid mood swings, sweating, pallor, breathlessness, contractions of stomach, dryness of the mouth - related to the ANS Women have lower levels of androgens and score lower on P. Some controversial evidence that androgen level is related to violence.

introverts do better in school than extroverts particularly in advance subjects
extroverts prefer jobs with other people introverts prefer solitary jobs
differences in humour - extroverts prefer sexually explicit and aggressive jokes whereas introverts prefer wit and puns
extroverts a have more sexual partners
extroverts are more suggestible.

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