German psychologist Hans Eysenck’s Model of Nervous System Temperament links temperament traits, specifically introversion and extraversion to the Central Nervous System. Introverted people are typically quiet, reserved, and timid whereas extraverts are active, sociable, and outgoing (151). According to Eysenck, introverts have high levels of brain arousal, which is controlled by the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS). Therefore, introverts do not need to seek external arousal leading them to be more reserved. Contrastingly, he argues that extraverts have lower levels of brain arousal and therefore are more sensation seeking in order to make up for it. In this paper, I will aim to synthesize and summarize some of the research regarding introversion and extraversion and their link to the central nervous system and states of arousal. I will synthesize this information to support the idea that while introversion and extraversion are on some level linked to states of arousal, Eysenck’s arousal hypothesis is not alone sufficient to explain the biological differences between introverted and extraverted individuals and their behaviors as such. Gerald Matthews, D. Roy Davies, and Jackie L. Lees conducted a series of three experiments to test this Eysenck’s arousal hypothesis of introversion and extraversion. The first of the experiments, which consisted of two parts (A and B) is most germane to this argument. According to Eysenck’s hypothesis, extraverts are low in arousal and therefore should seek stimulation in the morning. However, in accordance to Matthew’s experiment, the opposite actually happens. In part A of this experiment, the participants were 50 males and 50 females ranging in age from 18 to 36 with normal vision. ... ... middle of paper ... ...Test of Eysenck’s Arousal/Arousability Hypothesis. Journal of Individual Differences, 30(2), 87-99. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/1614-0001.30.2.87 Lindín, M., Zurrón, M., & Díaz, F. (2007). Influences of Introverted/Extraverted Personality Types on p300 Amplitude Across Repeated Stimulation. Journal of Psychophysiology, 21(2), 75-82. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0269-8803.21.2.75 Matthews, G., Davies, D. R., & Lees, J. L. (1990). Arousal, Extraversion, and Individual Differences in Resource Availability. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59(1), 150-168. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.59.1.150 Rammsayer, T. H. (1998). Extraversion and Dopamine: Individual Differences in Response to Changes in Dopaminergic Activity as a Possible Biological Basis of Extraversion. European Psychologist, 3(1), 37-50. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1027//1016-9040.3.1.37
Psychologists have shown that there exist two major social behaviors that are widely associated with a person as they mature into young adulthood: extraversion or introversion. Carl Yung, a swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, coined the term “introversion” versus “extroversion”. His idea was further elaborated upon by Hens Eysenck, a British psychologist, who defined extroverts and introverts by their baseline arousal. As Jerome Kagan, Professor of psychology at Harvard says, ““Introverts” and “extroverts” are not definitive diagnoses like blood types”, a person displays more or less of one of these two traits; extroverts generally has a more advantage over introverts but each of these personality traits has its own strengths and building on these strengths is what one ought
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Journal of personality and social psychology and. Retrieved from http://internal.psychology.illinois.edu/~broberts/Hazan & Shaver, 1987.pdf
Stelmack found that overall “differences in extraversion can be referred to discrete levels of central nervous system motor activity” (Stelmack, 1990). Because of the desire and need to be around people, extraverts require more stimulation while introverts do not need others to stimulate them, they find stimulation from within or from activities that do not require other people.
A layman would define personality as an individual’s characteristics in terms of how they think and behave. Many theorists, however, interprets personality differently resulting in various personality theories. Personality is determined by traits which are behaviours displayed by a person in most given situations. How a person reacts to common circumstances may also be used to foresee future behaviours. Traits are then categorized into types that allow easier comparisons to be made between each individual’s attributes. The focus of this paper would be on the biological aspects of personality whereby traits are thought to be inheritable through genetics and associated with the central nervous system. Behavioural genetics are research that makes use of results from studies done on family, twins and adoptions. The findings of how both genes and environment influences personality from the studies will be discussed. Some researchers found possible issues with the representativeness of such studies. The outline of Eysenck’s biological model of personality and arousal, Gray’s BAS/BIS theory and Cloninger’s biological model of personality will further explain the biological effect on personality.
My score on extraversion was 22, low again compared to the norm. For this trait, I agreed with my results at first, but after some thinking I realized although I am introverted, I do behave extravertly sometimes. In general, I prefer working alone, staying indoors, and I don’t like being around a lot of people. For example, when given a group project, I’d prefer working on my own. Yet most of the time, I end up being the group leader because I get along well with people and am usually optimistic. Basically, I prefer settings with less people, but I can mingle well with strangers at parties or functions. Most of my friends and myself included, would say I am extraverted because I make friends easily and am usually very happy and cheerful. But that is only partially true because I do behave differently depending on the situation and my role as a friend, student, employee, etc. Therefore, I don’t agree with my results overall. Considering I show both introversion and extroversion, I think my results should have been within average compared to the
Neurophysiology is the study of the brains behavior. Personality affects how a person will behave in certain situations. Human’s attitudes are determined by their environments, personal preferences and dislikes all reflex their everyday actions. Personality is 50%-70% hereditary and that home environment has little impact on child development. Motivated behavior; extraverts demonstrate an increased sensitivity to reward signals. There are three criterions necessary to establish the neurobiological basis of such a personality: a) define the network of neural structures associated with the trait, b) explain how individual differences occur within the functioning of that network and c) identify the sources of individual differences. Neurobiology investigates these questions with a reductionism approach, examining chemical release at synapses and correlating such activity with behavior. Personality research has a long history in the field of psychology. Only in the last forty years, however, have scientists begun to look for biological explanations. Is it possible that eventually neurobiology will be able to explain personality on the same level as motor responses or our sense of hearing? Still, the chemical basis of personality gives us great insight into how and why we behave as we do. It can help explain why different people react differently to similar situations. Perhaps most importantly, it offers the potential to alter such behavior, from treating mild cases of anxiety to severe personality disorders.
There has yet to be any determining evidence defines the characteristics of extraversion. The experimenters in this particular experiment have hypothesized that the facets of extraversion are somehow linked by reward sensitivity. This hypothesis was also tested against a model in which they are linked by sociability. There has been much work on this topic in the past, beginning with the works of Jung and James in the early 20th century—to the work of Watson and Clark in 1997. And even after a century of study, they are still unable to truly define the characteristics of the extraversion dimension of personality. In the many attempts to define extraversion, Watson and Clark have defined six basic facets of the personality trait. These are: venturesome, affiliation, positive affectivity, energy, ascendance, and ambition. Researchers Depue and Collins, in 1999, also offered a more succinct depiction of the characteristics of extraversion, this only having three basic parts. The first being affiliation, the enjoyment and value of close interpersonal bonds, also being warm and affectionate. The second, agency, being socially dominant, enjoying leadership roles, being assertive and exhibitionistic, and having a sense of potency in accomplishing goals. The final facet being impuslivity, but this one has been argued upon whether it should be included at all in the characteristics of extraversion at all.
In terms of The Big Five Trait Theory, an individual with a high level of extraversion is thought to display dominant behaviour as well as good leadership skills. The individual focusses their psychic energy on things that are external...
Extraversion is marked by pronounced engagement with the external world. Extraverts enjoy eing with people, are full of energy, and often experience positive emotions. They tend to be enthusiastic, action-oriented, individuals who are likely to say "Yes!" or "Let's go!" to opportunities for excitement. In groups they like to talk, assert themselves, and draw attention to themselves. (Beaumont 2003)
“ …my first concern must be with the two general types I have termed introverted and extraverted. But, in addition, I shall also try to give a certain characterization of those special types whose particularity is due to the fact that his most differentiated function plays the principal role in an individual's adaptation or orientation to life.” (Jung)
He says, “"extroversion," in contrast to more introverted people.” Extroversion describes people that are outgoing and love meeting and befriending people. Brian tells the audience in his TED talk that there are the three natures of people and extroverts help us understand them, “ First, our biogenic nature -- our neurophysiology. Second, our sociogenic or second nature, which has to do with the cultural and social aspects of our lives. And third, what makes you individually you -- idiosyncratic -- what I call your "idiogenic" nature.” Brian describes how he finds it intriguing how extroverts need stimulation all the time. Brian had mentioned introverts who are people who prefer their own company and are very shy. He explains which category he fits into, “I am an introvert, but I have a core project, which is to profess. I am a professor. And I adore my students, and I adore my field. And I cannot wait to tell them about what 's new, what 's exciting, what I cannot wait to tell them about. And so I act in an extroverted way, because at eight in the morning, the students need a little bit of humor, a little bit of engagement to keep them going in arduous days of study.” Brian brings about the idea that people can switch their personalities temporarily because of certain
On the other hand, introverts are people who are concerned with and interested in their own mental life and often perceived as more reserved and less outspoken in groups. Unlike extroverts who are feeling energized when they are around a large group of people, introverts have energy drained from them through human interaction. Hence, it is essential for them to spend some alone time to “recharge”. Al...
479). Throughout my life, I have always been described by teachers, friends, and family as an introvert. I’m shy around other people and often have a difficult time talking to them. In school, I’m the student that the teacher doesn’t know if I’m in class or not, unless I participate in discussions. It was interesting to learn more about introversion by reading about it in the book and the discussions in class. I was intrigued by the research information in the book, “shyness has a strong biological influence” (Grison, Heatherton,Gazzaniga, 2017, p. 484). My grandfather displayed the same quiet nature. Whenever, I went to my grandparent’s home, I noticed how he sat and listened intently to others, but didn’t speak much. He has always had a quiet nature. In addition, I learned more about the trait from the Eysenck’s Biological Trait Theory of Personality, which described how “personality traits had two major dimensions:
It is believed that personality was broken into two different yet basic dimensions; extraversion-introversion and neuroticism (Cale, 2006, p. 251). A third dimension came into play later in Eysenck’s research; this would come to be called psychoticism (Cale, 2006, p. 252). Though the other dimensions are important to personality this paper will focus on the biological factors of only extraversion-introversion.
During an individual’s progression from childhood into adolescence researchers suggest that agreeableness and conscientiousness increased, while extraversion, neuroticism, and openness dropped (Srivastava, John, Gosling, and Potter, 2003). The fall in extraversion, neuroticism, and openness can be due to an individual’s increased responsibilities and time constraint. Individuals later in life tend to be more mature and experienced with emotional feelings and are able handle themselves well in emotional settings, hence getting a low score on