Kevin MacDonald, Ph.D.
CSULB, Department of Psychology
PSYCHOLOGY 346IC
EVOLUTION AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
PERSONALITY TRAIT =
1.) HERITABLE
2.) INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES OF A
3.) REASONABLY STABLE NATURE
4.) RELATING TO A PERSON'S EMOTIONAL, INTERPERSONAL,
EXPERIENTIAL, ATTITUDINAL, AND MOTIVATIONAL STYLES.
1.) EACH PERSONALITY DIMENSION REPRESENTS VARIATION IN AN EVOLVED SYSTEM. EVERYONE HAS THE SYSTEM, BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE HIGHER ON THE DIMENSION THAN OTHERS; E. G., WE ALL HAVE THE MECHANISMS UNDERLYING FEAR, BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE FEARFUL THAN OTHERS
2.) EACH EVOLVED SYSTEM IS A BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION WITH A SPECIFIC SURVIVAL FUNCTION. E.G., FEAR FUNCTIONS TO AVOID DANGERS
3.) EXTREMES TEND TO BE MALADAPTIVE (BEING AFRAID OF DANGEROUS THINGS IS ADAPTIVE, BUT BEING AFRAID OF EVERYTHING ISN'T
5.) PERSONALITY TRAITS OR SYSTEMS ARE NOT TYPES OF PEOPLE. INDIVIDUALS ARE HIGH OR LOW ON A GIVEN PERSONALITY SYSTEM.
(1) BEHAVIORAL APPROACH
VARIATION IN: SOCIAL DOMINANCE, ATTRACTION TO REWARD, SENSATION SEEKING, IMPULSIVITY, RISK-TAKING, ASSERTIVENESS, AGGRESSION
EMOTIONS: POSITIVE AROUSAL, EXHILARATION, HAPPINESS, CONFIDENCE, POSITIVE SELF-REGARD, ANGER
SURVIVAL FUNCTION: ACTIVE INTERFACE WITH ENVIRONMENT
EXTREMES MALADAPTIVE
PHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISM: REWARD SENSITIVITY; AROUSAL REGULATION; SENSATION SEEKING GENES
SEX DIFFERENCES: MALES > FEMALES
AGE CHANGES: HIGHEST IN LATE ADOLESCENCE, YOUNG ADULTHOOD: THE "YOUNG MALE SYNDROME"
2.) STOP SYSTEM (BEHAVIORAL INHIBITION SYSTEM)
VARIATION IN:FEAR, CAUTION, WORRY ABOUT THREATS TO SELF OR NOVELTY
THERE IS VARIATION IN FEAR AND ANXIETY IN NOVEL (SCARY) SITUATIONS OR WITH UNFAMILIAR PEOPLE BEGINNING IN SECOND HALF OF FIRST YEAR
KAGAN: 15% OF 2-YEAR-OLDS ARE BEHAVIORLY INHIBITED; CONSIDERABLE STABILITY OF BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASURES (HIGH AND STABLE HEART RATE, STRESS HORMONES)
EMOTIONS: FEAR, ANXIETY, TENSION
SURVIVAL FUNCTION: RESPOND TO DANGERS
EXTREMES MALADAPTIVE
SEX DIFFERENCES: FEMALES > MALES
3.) AFFECTIONAL SYSTEM
VARIATION IN: TENDENCIES TOWARD LOVE, WARMTH, ALTRUISM, SYMPATHY, COMPASSION, TRUST, COMPLIANCE, EMPATHY
EMOTIONS: LOVE, SYMPATHY, EMPATHY
SURVIVAL FUNCTION: FAMILY AS UNIT OF REPRODUCTION; PAIR BONDING; BRING FATHER INTO FAMILY; RAISING HIGH QUALITY CHILDREN
EXTREMES MALADAPTIVE
PHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISM: DOPAMINERGIC REWARD SYSTEM; OXYTOCIN
SEX DIFFERENCES: FEMALES > MALES
4.) CONSCIENTIOUSNESS SYSTEM
VARIATION IN: DEPENDABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY, PLANFULNSS,
THOROUGHNESS, ATTENTION TO DETAIL, DUTIFULNESS,
ACHIEVEMENT STRIVING, DELIBERATENESS, EFFICIENT,
LACK OF SELF-INDULGENCE, ABILITY TO DELAY
GRATIFICATION, FOCUSED EFFORT
EMOTIONS: GUILT, SELF-ESTEEM; HOPE FOR GOAL ATTAINMENT
SURVIVAL FUNCTION: TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS; ACHIEVE LONG- TERM GOALS BY ENGAGING IN BEHAVIOR WHICH IS NOT INTRINSICALLY FUN, OR PLEASURABLE; FORM COHESIVE GROUPS
EXTREMES MALADAPTIVE
SEX DIFFERENCES: FEMALES > MALES
AGE CHANGES: BECOMES STRONGER WITH AGE
5.) REACTIVITY/EMOTIONALITY
VARIATION IN THE TENDENCY TO BECOME EMOTIONALLY AROUSED FOR ALL OF THE EMOTIONS.
HIGH REACTIVE CHILD
POSITIVE AFFECT
NEUTRAL AFFECT________________________________________________
NEGATIVE AFFECT
LOW MEDIUM HIGH
LEVEL OF STIMULATION
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
LOW REACTIVE CHILD
POSITIVE AFFECT
NEUTRAL AFFECT________________________________________________
NEGATIVE AFFECT
LOW MEDIUM HIGH
LEVEL OF STIMULATION
A.) MODALITY SPECIFICITY: DIFFERENT SENSORY SYSTEMS MAY
HAVE DIFFERENT REACTIVITIES
B.) ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN REACTIVITY: MONGOLOID < CAUCASIAN OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN
C.) DEVELOPMENTAL SHIFTS: TERRIBLE TWO'S AND ADOLESCENCE
D.) ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES (E. G., PREMATURITY, PRENATAL DRUG EXPOSURE)
SURVIVAL FUNCTION: MOBILIZE BEHAVIORAL RESOURCES
EXTREMES MALADAPTIVE
SEX DIFFERENCES: FEMALES > MALES
AGE CHANGES: CHILDREN BECOME LESS EMOTIONAL WITH AGE
GENERAL PRINCIPLES:
1.) ALL PERSONALITY TRAITS ARE HERITABLE (Heritability = 0.50)
2.) ACTIVE AND EVOCATIVE G--->E EFFECTS; ACTIVE G---->E
EFFECTS IMPLY SELF-REGULATION; EVEN EMOTIONALITY
(REACTIVITY) HAS SELF-REGULATORY EFFECTS
3.) EXTREMES TEND TO BE MALADAPTIVE
4.) PERSONALITY SYSTEMS WHICH DEVELOP OUT OF TEMPERAMENT SYSTEMS TEND TO BE MORE DIFFERENTIATED THAN THE CORRESPONDING TEMPERAMENT TRAIT.
5.) PERSONALITY TRAITS OR SYSTEMS ARE NOT TYPES OF PEOPLE. INDIVIDUALS ARE HIGH OR LOW ON A GIVEN PERSONALITY SYSTEM.
6.) DIFFERENT SITUATIONS BRING OUT DIFFERENT PERSONALITY SYSTEMS: CONTEXTUAL INFLUENCES
GO: PARTY
STOP: DARK ALLEY
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS: FINALS
AFFECTIONAL SYSTEM: FAMILY LIFE
7. There may be conflicts between personality systems in particular situations. E.g., deciding to go to a party (GO) or study for finals (Conscientiousness).
THE HERMAN'S HEAD THEORY OF PERSONALITY:
CONFLICT AMONG THE INDEPENDENT PERSONALITY SYSTEMS
BALANCED
CONFLICTED
ONE-SYSTEM DOMINANT
Levels of an Evolutionary Perspective on Personality
I. Personality Systems as Universal Psychological Mechanisms:
A. Personality Systems as Universal Design Features of Humans Homologous with Similarly-Functioning Systems in Other Vertebrates
B. System X Context Interactions and Compartmentalization
C. System X System Interactions
D. System X Context X Trait Interactions
E. System-Specific Environmental Influences
II. Approaches to Group Differences in Universal Mechanisms Based on Evolutionary Theory
A. The Evolutionary Theory of Gender Differences in Personality
B. Evolutionary Approaches to Age Differences in Personality Systems
C. Evolution and Birth Order Differences in Personality
D. Life History Theory and Personality
III. Evolutionary Perspectives on Individual Differences
A. Individual Differences within the Normal Range as Variation in Viable Strategies
B. Individual Differences at the Extreme Ends of the Normal Range as Maladaptive or High-Risk Strategies
C. Social Evaluation: Individual Differences in Others' Personalities as a Resource Environment
D. Self-Evaluation and Self-Presentation of Personality Traits as Mechanisms for Maximizing One's Resource Value in the Social Environment
Level 1 EVOLVED MOTIVE DISPOSITIONS
(Domain-Specific Mechanisms)
Level 2 PERSONAL STRIVINGS
(Direct Psychological Effects of Domain-Specific Mechanisms)
Level 3 CONCERNS, PROJECTS, TASKS
(Utilize Domain-General Mechanisms)
Level 4 SPECIFIC ACTION UNITS
(Utilize Domain-General Mechanisms)
EXAMPLE:
Evolved Motive Disposition: INTIMACY
Personal Striving: INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH A PARTICULAR PERSON
Concern, Project, Task: Arrange Meeting Improve appearance Get promotion
Action Units: Find phone number Begin dieting Work on weekends
Hierarchical model of motivation showing relationships between domain-specific and domain-general mechanisms (after Emmons, 1989).
