BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF PERSONALITY

Key Biological Theorists include

  1. Charles Darwin
  2. Ivan Pavlov
  3. Hans Eysenck 1916-1997
  4. Francis Galton

Evolutionary Personality Theory

  1. It is application of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution of natural selection
  2. It states that function of a survival characteristic evolves over time
  3. Belief that many of individual characteristics are “in our bones” in our genes
  4. Natural selection is a process by which certain adaptive characteristics emerge over generations

Survival of the Fittest

  1. Darwin’s concept that the fittest survive over time
  2. Misused to mean: weak creatures should not survive
  3. Pseudoscientific justification for the oppression of minorities

Social Darwinism

  1. Applying evolutionary theory in a crude way to society
  2. Not only individuals but societies and cultures naturally compete in survival of the fittest
  3. It was ok to subjugate those seen as inferior race or culture

Genetic Personality Types
Examples of Genetic Personality Types

  1. Angelman Syndrome – chromosome 15
    1. Friendly
    2. Oral driven
  2. Downs Syndrome - chromosome 21
    1. Friendly – easy to get along with
    2. Caring, Loving
    3. Approval seeking

Mediated effects of Biology

  1. Disease-Parkinson’s, ear, heart, lung, systemic, surgery
  2. Poisoning-mercury, lead, manganese
  3. Brain disease-Alzheimer’s, strokes, epilepsy, tumors
  4. Illegal drugs, LSD, cocaine, crack

Human Temperament:
Study of Temperaments is based on Work of Pavlov

  1. Human Temperament is defined as stable individual differences in emotional reactivity which remain stable as children mature
  2. Different nervous system responses to unpleasant stimuli

4 Basic Aspects of Temperament

  1. Social-Introversion-Extroversion- seek or avoid being with/in front people
  2. Emotionality-fearful, angry, mood swings vs relaxed, calm, placid, stable
  3. Activity-vigorous, always in motion vs passive, lethargic
  4. Impulsive-aggressive-bully vs peace maker, plans vs quick changes, cold vs conscientious & friendly

Work of Hans Eysenck
Hans Eysenck proposed 3 Type Theory –which is based on Biological Determinism. Basically it postulates Heredity in Everything

  1. E – Extraversion – linked to ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)-reticular formation of Brain Stem
  2. N – Neuroticism – linked to limbic system-brains emotional center regulates sex, fear & aggression
  3. P – Psychoticism – linked to endocrine gland-especially which controls sex drive

Eysenck’s Types

  1. Extraversion – introversion
  2. Neuroticism – stability
  3. Psychoticism – superego functioning
  4. People show degrees of all 3 types
  5. Encouraged Twin studies especially of identical twins who were adopted separately

Introversion vs Extroversion:

  1. This is also based on work of Hans Eysenck who ties this to central nervous system – Biologically based personality theory
  2. Extroverts – Low level of Brain arousal and seek stimulation
  3. Introverts – High level of Brain arousal shy away from over-stimulation

Work of Sir Francis Galton

  1. He Supposed that Upper Class Englishmen were a superior population
  2. Began the study of adoptive twins
  3. Began the “eugenics” movement
  4. Encouraged eminent families to have lots of children to improve the human blood lines

Eugenics

  1. Good Birth or Good Genes is the cause of peoples’ high intelligence and stable emotional well-being
  2. Recommend forced sterilization of the poor

Kin Selection

  1. Nieces and nephews of people with certain traits thought to be genetic based-  homosexuality, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder – genetic tendency toward these conditions survives since nephews and nieces share some genetic makeup with uncle or aunt who has these traits.

Nervous System Arousal

  1. Stable people have well-modulated nervous systems
  2. Neurotic people have very reactive nervous systems
  3. Tests: EEG, Electrodermal measure (which reads brain activity)

Somatotypology
It was proposed by W. H. Sheldon 1942

  1. Three Body Types have influence on personality:
  2. Mesomorphs-muscular, large boned, athletic
  3. Ectomorphs- slender, bookworm
  4. Endomorphs- overweight, roly-poly, good natured

Sociobiology

  1. Scientific study of the influence of evolutionary biology on individual responses regarding social matters
  2. Focus: Analysis of human aggression, human courtship and raising young children

Attachment

  1. Close bond – develops shortly after birth between infant and caretaker(mother)
  2. Infant clings, gurgles, smiles to attract caregiver-so that caregiver will nurture the infant
  3. Attachment system insures survival of the of infant-ensures passing of mothers genes
  4. Evolutionary function for cuteness of infants

Human Genome Project

  1. The accomplished task of identifying the tens of thousands of genes in chromosomes
  2. Develop treatments for inherited diseases
  3. Movement towards Gene Therapy
  4. Potential threat: genetic engineering

Biological Determination

  1. Personality simply a matter of genes, brains, and hormones
  2. Behavior is determined by biological tendencies
  3. Minimizes the human potential for growth and change

Functional categorization of Central Nervous System:
The Brain

  1. Brain reaches its maximum number of synaptic connections and its greatest metabolic activity around age 3 or 4

Brain Hemispheric Hypothesis

  1. Left side of Brain-Role in Positive Emotions-Creative side of Brain
  2. Right side of Brain-Role in Negative Emotions-Methodological, systematic side of Brain

Messages from Brain Travel by Nervous System

  1. The Central Nervous System is the Communications Highway of the body
  2. Brings help to the body based on the messages it screens from the environment

Neurotransmitters

  1. Brain = Billions of Brain Cells-Neurons
  2. Neurons transmit information – electrical conduction within nerve cells & between nerve cells
  3. Message once carried through body cell (Axon) crosses space –Synapse to receiving cell
  4. Tip of Axon-tiny sacs contain neurotransmitter chemicals which are automatically released by sending nerve cell
  5. Neurotransmitter chemicals excite receiving cell causing cell to fire to send message through its own body-Axon to next receiving cell
  6. Once message received neurotransmitter is deactivated and taken up from synapse and stored in sacs so as not to cause repeated firing of the receiving cell

Types of Neurotransmitters

  1. Dopamine-dopaminergic system
  2. Norepinephrine-noradrenergic system
  3. Serotonin-serotonergic system
  4. Control senses, thinking, perception, mood, attention, and behavior
  5. Unfortunately at this time we can not measure amount for baseline therapeutic levels