Hans Eysenck: Biologically Based Factor
Theory
- Based his taxonomy in factor analysis and
biology
- He derived 3 rather than 5 dimensions of
personality.
Extraversion – Introversion
Neuroticism – Stability
Psychoticism – Superego
- Indirect differences in people’s personalities
were biological and not merely psychological
aspects of personality.
- Genetic differences lead to differences in CUS
and these lead to differences along 3 factors of
personality.
Evidence for biological basis of personality
1. TEMPERAMENT – tendency to behave in
particular ways from very early in life
2. BEHAVIORAL GENETICS
– Scientific study of role of heredity in behavior
HERITABILITY – extent to which a
characteristic is influenced by genetics
3. BRAIN IMAGING TECHNIQUE
- EEG (Electroencephalography) - records
electrical activity of the brain, superior in
showing when but not on where brain activity
occurs.
-FMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance
Imaging) - tells us where brain activity is
occurring, tracks blood oxygen in brain tissue.
EYSENCK’S FACTOR THEORY
- has strong psychometric and biological
components
CRITERIA FOR IDENTIFYING FACTORS
1. PSYCHOMETRIC EVIDENCE (Factors
must be reliable and replicable
2. HERITABILITY (Must fit established
genetic model)
3. MAKE SENSE FROM A THEORETICAL
VIEW (Deductive theory)
4. POSSESS SOCIAL RELEVANCE
HIERARCHY OF BEHAVIOR
ORGANIZATION
1. Specific acts/cognition
2. Habitual acts/cognition
3. Trait
4. Types/Super factors
DIMENSIONS OF PERSONALITY
- all three types/super factors are bipolar
Extraversion – Introversion
Neuroticism – Stability
Psychoticism – Superego
1. EXTRAVERSION (E) - Sociability and
impulsiveness but also liveliness, quick-
withdrawal, optimism, other traits indicate of
people rewarded for association with others.
- (Introverts) – principal difference are not
behavior but biological and genetic in nature.
-differences cause is cortical arousal level that
is inherited rather than learned (increase for
Introversion, decrease for Extraversion)
2. NEUROTICISM (N) – overreact
emotionally and difficult to return to normal
state.
-Diathesis-Stress Model – that predisposition or
diathesis may interact with stress to produce
neurotic disorder. (Vulnerable to illness because
they have genetic or acquired weakness that
predisposes them to illness.)
- increase N score = decrease level of stress
necessary for disorder.
3. PSYCHOTICISM (P)
- Increase P = cold, egocentric, impulsive,
aggressive
- Decrease P highly socialized, caring,
conforming
- (Diathesis-Stress Model) Increase P score =
decrease level of stress for disorder
MEASURING PERSONALITY
1. Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) –
only E & N
2. Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) – E
& N + L (lie scale)
3. Eysenck Personality Questionnaire
(EPQ) – E, N, P
4. Eysenck Personality Questionnaire
Revised - made because of critics of P
scale.
BIOLOGICAL BASES OF PERSONALITY
-estimated that about ¾ of all 3 personalities are
from heredity, 2 and ¼ from environment
factors.
- evidences:
1. Identical factors from people around the
world.
2. Individual maintain position over time on
different dimension.
3. High similarities on identical over fraternal
twins.
-TOP have:
1. Antecedents = genetic and biological
2. Consequences = experimental and social

PERSONALITY AS A PREDICTOR
- E’s model of personality suggests that P, E, N
can combine with one another and with genetic
determination, biological, experiments to predict
social behavior and disease contribution.
PERSONALITY AND BEHAVIOR
-Extroverts = increase in demand for change and
novelty
- Personality factors should be included in
psychological studies
EXTRAVERTS- Active discovery learning
INTROVERTS- Passive Reception Learning