Kevin MacDonald, Ph.D.
CSULB, Department of Psychology
PSYCHOLOGY 361
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
