CH14: Hans Eysenck's Biologically-Based Factor Theory

• Personality is largely governed by biology.
• Differences in biology lead to differences along three factorsof personality: extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism.
• Evidences for the biological basis of personality:

  1. Temperament - tendency to behave in particular ways.
  2. Behavioral Genetics - role of genetics heredity in behavior seen in twin-adoption studies.
  3. Brain-imaging techniques - EEG, fMRI.
• Identifying factor 1: A factor must be reliable and replicable (psychometric evidence).
• Identifying factor 2: A factor must possess heritability and must fit anestablished genetic model.
• Identifying factor 3: A factor must make sense from a theoretical view (using a deductive method of investigation).
• Identifying factor 4: A factor must possess social relevance.