PSYC 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 25: Factor Analysis, Autonomic Nervous System, Extraversion And Introversion

• School: Binghamton University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 111
• Professor: dr.duell

Document Summary

Trait theorists attempt to describe personality in terms of stable and enduring behavior patterns, or dispositions to feel and act. Some theorists use dominant traits and their associated characteristics to describe personality types identify basic traits is factor analysis. Hans and sybil eysenck reduced normal variations to two or three genetically influenced dimensions, including extraversion-introversion and emotional stability-instability. Brain activity scans suggest that extraverts and introverts differ in their level of arousal. Extraverts seeking stimulation because their normal brain arousal is relatively low. Jerome kagan maintains that, by influencing autonomic nervous system reactivity, heredity also affects our temperament and behavioral style, which help define our personality. People tend to equate introversion with shyness, but the two concepts differ introverted people seek low levels of stimulation from their environment because they"re sensitive. Shy people remain quiet because they fear others will evaluate them negatively.