BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON
PERSONALITY
COURSE: PERSONALITY THEORIES (PSY 711)
LECTURER: DR AYODEJI

IKPONMWOSA ESOSA A. 130904049

ODIYI LOTANNA 199085045
OGUNJIMI JOEL O. 199085025
OLADIPUPO OLAWALE 199085122
 Introduction

Personality refers to the characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling and acting; it is a person’s consistent
pattern of behaviour across different situations and events.
Personality has been studied from different perspectives over the years as psychologists believe that
personality is often influenced by a variety of things. The most popular perspectives are the biological
perspective and the behavioural perspective and this has led to an age-old debate known as nature vs
nurture.
“Nature” looks at the influence of biological processes and forces (such as genes, trauma, brain injuries)
on human personality while “nurture” mainly looks at the influence of the environment on the
formation of personality. There are other perspectives on personality - social, psychoanalytic,
humanistic, for example - but the focus here is the influence of biological forces in shaping personality.
 Introduction Contd
The biological view on personality is an aspect of psychology that has
grown over the years and is often referred to as biopsychology. This view
highlights the core physiological and genetic factors that encourage
personality. It emphasises the “why” and “how” personality traits are
apparent through biology, and examines the relationship between
personality, DNA, and processes in the brain.
For a complete understanding of this perspective, the different aspects that
contribute to the biological perspective will be considered.
 Temperament

In psychology, “temperament” refers to the prevailing or consistent mood pattern of an

individual. These personality tendencies exhibited are believed to be present at birth (and for
this reason, it is biologically determined). For instance, Thomas and Chess (1977) establish
that infants could be grouped into one of three temperaments: easy, difficult, or slow to warm
up. After birth occurs, environmental factors (for example, family relationship) and
maturation interact with a child’s temperament to shape their personality (Carter et al., 2008).
Furthermore, past research shows that there are two stages of our nature that are essential
aspects of our adult personality: reactivity and self-regulation (Rothbart, Ahadi, & Evans,
2000). For example, one person may immediately respond to a new stimulus with a high level
of anxiety while another barely notices it.
 Genetics and Personality

Genes are the basic biological unit of heredity that transmit characteristics from one generation to
the next. While it may be easy to say there is a gene that transmits personality, there is no such
gene. Instead, personality can be influenced by the actions of many genes working together. For
example, a biological perspective on personality is interested in understanding the role a person’s
genetic makeup plays in influencing their propensity to display emotions such as anger.
The area of behavioural genetics lays major emphasis on the association between genes and
behaviour and has given psychologists a glimpse of the link between genetics and personality. A
large part of the proof generated connecting genetics and the environment to personality comes
from twin studies, which compare levels of similarity in personality between genetically identical
twins.
 Genetics and Personality

In the field of behavioural genetics, a research conducted in Minnesota, known widely as the
Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart, studied twins from 1979 to 1999. The research studied 350
pairs of twins, they feature pairs of identical and fraternal twins nurtured together and separately;
researchers found that identical twins, be it nurtured together or differently, possess similar
personalities (Bouchard, 1994; Bouchard, Lykken, McGue, Segal, & Tellegen, 1990; Segal, 2012).
This research showed that some certain inherent personality traits were displayed during the course
of the research, indicating that some aspects of our personalities are to a large extent controlled by
genetics. Several twin researchers have established that identical twins tend to have a greater
correlation with regards to personality traits than fraternal twins. Identical twins may or may not have
some similar personality traits; however, they still have different personalities, indicating that
genetics are not the only factor in shaping personality.
 Genetics and Personality

It is essential to note that traits are determined not by a single gene, but by a number
of genes, and also by the surrounding environmental factors that regulate if a certain
gene is to be showcased. A lot of personality studies currently study the establishment
and presence of genes and their relationship with personality. The process in which the
DNA relates with the environment predetermines which area of the DNA code is
stirred inside an individual, simply put, it states which genes will be showcased. These
complex individualities in an individuals’ DNA aids in governing every individual’s
uniqueness for instance; their distinct looks, abilities, brain functioning, and other
physical appearance that all work together to form a unified personality.
 The Brain and Personality
The biological approach to personality has also acknowledged areas and trails within the brain that are
linked with the development of personality. Numerous theorists, such as Hans Eysenck, Gordon
Allport, and Raymond Cattell, strongly affirm that personality traits can be traced back to brain
structures and neural mechanisms, such as dopamine and serotonin pathways.
Researchers using a biological perspective will seek to understand how hormones, neurotransmitters,
and different areas of the brain all interact to affect personality.
Research has shown, for instance, that the brains of teenagers with serious antisocial behaviours differ
in structure from those of their peers that do not display the same antisocial behaviours (Fairchild et
al., 2016). This study suggests that the structure of the brain also plays a crucial role in determining a
person’s personality. In addition, brain maturation has also been shown to influence behaviour.
 The Brain and Personality
Phineas Gage: A Case Study
One of the first recognised cases that validated the link between personality and the brain was
that of Phineas Gage. In 1858, Gage was employed as a blasting foreman for a railroad firm.
Due to a defective blast, a railroad spike was propelled through his head; astonishingly, he
survived the accident.
The spike penetrated Gage’s frontal lobe, and Gage experienced many succeeding variations
in regards to personality that is now connected with this area of the brain. The alterations in
Gage’s personality after his brain injury prompted the interest in the biological elements
involved in personality and concerned the frontal lobe as an essential region associated with
higher-order personality functions.
 Strengths of the Biological Perspective

• One can say that a major strength of the biological model is its firm devotion to the scientific
method. All aspects are condensed to quantifiable variables that can be reliably measured by
personality trait models and questionnaires. The personality measures are consistent across
measurements, and these measures of personality are very well-suited with statistical analyses,
providing an easily administered and measurable definition of personality.
• This model can also be deterministic, the importance of this is that some elements are recognized as
causal, meaning that some brain structures or patterns may be known as triggering certain
psychological outcomes. Due to this, the biological standpoint can be beneficial in recognising
causes of and effective treatments for personality and mood disorders. For example, detecting
serotonin imbalance as a reason for depression steered the development of selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which have been found to be an effective treatment for depression.
 Limitations of the Biological Perspective

• A limitation of this viewpoint is that it focuses nearly solely on the nature side
of the nature vs. nurture debate (the debate about whether genetics or
environment is more significant in human development). Because of this
limited focus, other issues that are integral to personality are not included.
Hormones, neurotransmitters, and genetics are the key factors in this focus;
the effects of environmental and social factors, however, are often overlooked.
Twin studies have shown that heritable factors are not the only predictor of
personality or even diseases such as schizophrenia; the biological perspective
does not fully address non-heritable factors.
 Limitations of the Biological Perspective
• In addition, the correlational studies used for measuring normal personality traits are subjected to the
same rules as normal correlational research: they cannot be used unaccompanied to establish causation.
Although, two factors shown to be related does not establish that one influences the other. For instance,
if you have data that indicates that as ice cream sales increase, the rate of drowning deaths also
increases, the conclusion should not necessarily depict that ice cream consumption causes drowning.
This is due to the fact that more ice cream is sold during the hot summer months which coincidentally
means that a lot of people are more often than not likely to go swimming. Hence, the relationship
involving the increase in both ice cream sales and drowning deaths respectively is most likely the hot
summer weather.
• After all is said and done, properly designed experimental research can aid scientists to determine cause-
and-effect relationships in order to create treatment options for people with personality disorders.
 Psychological Assessments

A psychological assessment is conducted to source information on the behaviour, capabilities and

other relevant traits of a client in order to diagnose a condition and arrive at an appropriate treatment
plan. Psychologists adopt a variety of approaches when sourcing data for these assessments, ranging
from clinical interviews to psychophysiological measurement devices (APA, 2013)
Biological methods such as brain imaging techniques have been found to be useful in identifying
organic brain pathologies (eg, Tumors), however they haven’t been proven to be as usueful in
diagnosing mental disorders like autism, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia or bipolar diorder.
Also, although certain genes have been linked with mental disorders, no gene variant can predict with
certainty that a person will develop a mental disorder. Other non biological tests are needed for a
mental disorder to be properly diagnosed.
 Psychological Interventions

Psychological interventions usually occur after an assessment has been conducted

(Langer, 2004) They are aimed at helping an individual cultivate healthy and positive
behaviours in a given situation and therefore improve the individual’s quality of life and
autonomy (Horvath A, Del Re AC, Flückiger C, Symonds, 2013)
Biopsychological interventions are characterised by the use of medical techniques
and/or drugs to influence the activity of the central nervous system to treat
psychological disorders. These interventions are aimed at correcting the biological
causes of mental disorders. There are two broad types of biopsychological interventions:
Pharmacotherapy and Direct brain intervention (Dalhousie University, 2020)
 Pharmacotherapy

This is the use of medication to treat psychological disorders. It stems from the
understanding that to guarantee good mental health, the brain must have a suitable
balance of neurotransmitters. Although the medication available at this time does
not specifically target and change behaviours or cure these disorders, they are
typically used in conjunction with psychotherapy in treating an array of mental
disorders (Dalhousie University, 2020).
Biedermann & Fleischhacker (2009) assert that there is no generalised prescription
for specific psychological disorders and that the best medication combination is
often found through “trial and error”.
 Pharmacotherapy
Different classes of drugs are used to treat different psychological disorders. For example,
• Antidepressants in the form of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been adopted as a
treatment of persistent or severe depression in conjunction with a form of psychotherapy (e.g. Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy).
• Mood stabilizers such as Eskalith have been used to combat the mood swings of individuals diagnosed with
Bipolar disorder.
• Mild tranquillizers such as Valium and Xanax have been used to treat anxiety, panic and mood disorders.
• Antipsychotics such as Risperdal have been used to treat Schizophrenia by interacting with the
neurotransmitter’s dopamine and serotonin.
• Psychostimulants such as Adderall are used to treat ADHD by reducing hyperactivity and improving attention
 Limitaions of pharmacotherapy
One major limitation of drug therapy is that the side effects of the
medication are sometimes more intolerable than the condition itself. SSRIs
have been specifically criticized for increasing the risk of suicide in young
adults (Barbui, Esposito, & Cipriani, 2009).
Long term use of antipsychotics has been said to potentially cause
permanent neurological damage. However, this has become less common in
newer antipsychotics (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008).
 Direct Brain Intervention Techniques

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

This form of therapy treats psychological disorders by “shocking” the brain with
electrical currents to trigger seizures. This was adopted as a means of treating severe
depression in the 1930s, it is said to have had a high success rate in the short term, but
a lot of patients were said to have experienced relapses. It was considered high risk as
many were reported to have suffered memory loss from the procedure. In more recent
times the use of ECT has been somewhat replaced by transcranial magnetic stimulation
(TMS). This method uses a magnetic coil to stimulate the brain and alleviate the
symptoms of depression. TMS is considered to be a lot safer than ECT.
 Direct Brain Intervention Techniques

Psychosurgery
Psychosurgery is a surgical procedure carried out to disconnect brain tissue
and/ or to remove a portion of the brain with the intention of alleviating the
symptoms of mental disorders. This is a controversial procedure that is
banned in certain countries and only carried out in severe circumstances.
In recent times, the most widely practiced biopsychological intervention
is the use of drugs as it is considered much safer and is highly effective.
Influences of Culture and Gender on Personality

Both culture and gender are essential factors that play a role in the
development of personality.
An individual’s culture is one of the most important environmental factors in
molding and shaping their personality (Triandis & Suh, 2002). Personality
psychologists are intrigued about understanding the relationship between
culture and the development of personality. Research examining the
variations of personality traits across cultures suggests that there are both
universal and culture-specific aspects that account for these variations.
 Culture and Personality

The term culture refers to all of the beliefs, customs, ideas, behaviours, and traditions of a particular
society that are passed through generations. Culture is transferred to people through language as
well as through the pattern of behaviour, and it states which traits and behaviours are considered
crucial, desirable, or undesirable.
Within a culture, there are norms and behavioural expectations. These cultural norms can control
which personality traits are deemed important. The researcher Gordon Allport gave precedent to
culture to be an essential influence on traits and outlined common traits as those that are recognized
within a culture. These traits may differ from culture to culture due to differing values, needs, and
beliefs. Positive and negative traits can be determined by cultural expectations: what is considered a
positive trait in one culture may be considered negative in another, thus resulting in different
expressions of personality across cultures.
 Culture and Personality

Considering cultural influences on personality is important because Western ideas and theories
are not necessarily applicable to other cultures (Benet-Martinez & Oishi, 2008). There is a great
deal of evidence that the strength of personality traits varies across cultures, and this is especially
true when comparing individualist cultures (such as European, North American, and Australian
cultures) and collectivist cultures (such as Asian, African, and South American cultures). People
who live in individualist cultures tend to believe that independence, competition, and personal
achievement are important. In contrast, people who live in collectivist cultures tend to value
social harmony, respectfulness, and group needs over individual needs. These values influence
personality in different but substantial ways; for example, Yang (2006) found that people in
individualist cultures displayed more personally-oriented personality traits, whereas people in
collectivist cultures displayed more socially-oriented personality traits
 Gender and Personality
In much the same manner that cultural norms can influence personality and behaviour, gender norms (the
behaviours that males and females are expected to conform to in a given society) can also influence
personality by emphasizing different traits between different genders.
Ideas of appropriate behaviour for each gender (masculine and feminine) vary among cultures and tend
to change over time. For example, aggression and assertiveness have historically been emphasized as
positive masculine personality traits in the United States. Meanwhile, submissiveness and caretaking
have historically been held as ideal feminine traits. While many gender roles remain the same, others
change over time. In 1938, for example, only 1 out of 5 Americans agreed that a married woman should
earn money in industry and business. By 1996, however, 4 out of 5 Americans approved of women
working in these fields. This type of attitude change has been accompanied by behavioural shifts that
coincide with changes in trait expectations and shifts in personal identity for men and women.
 Gender and Personality
Eysenck’s theory is based predominantly on physiology and genetics. While he is a
behaviourist who considers learned habits of great importance, he deliberates personality
differences as growing out of our genetic inheritance. He is, therefore, primarily interested
in what is usually called temperament. Eysenck is first and foremost a research
psychologist above all. His approaches contain a statistical method termed factor analysis.
This technique removes a number of "dimensions" from large masses of data. For example,
if you give long lists of adjectives to a large number of people for them to rate themselves
on, you have prime raw material for factor analysis. Visualize, for instance, a test that
incorporated words like "shy," "introverted," "outgoing," "wild," and so on. Evidently, shy
people are likely to rate themselves high on the first two words, and low on the second two.
Outgoing individuals are probable to do the opposite. The researcher then examines the
data and gives the factor a name such as "introversion-extraversion."