Eysenck

Eysenck (1967; 1990) proposes that there is a biological basis for introversion-extraversion: introverts have higher levels of activity in the cortico-reticular loop, and thus are chronically more cortically aroused, than extraverts. Neuroticism is based on a separate biological system related to the visceral brain (the hippocampus-amygdala, singulum, septum, and hypothalamus) that produces autonomic arousal. Eysenck distinguishes arousal produced by reticular activity, the basis for extraversion, which he calls "arousal," from autonomic arousal, the basis for neuroticism, which he calls "activation." Recent work shows that Eysenck's arousal systems are probably only two of a variety of arousal systems (Zuckerman & Como, 1983). Other work shows that psychoticism (i.e., tough mindedness) is not a dimension of temperament at all, but rather of character (Strelau & Zawadzki, 1997).

Extraversion

Neuroticism

Psychoticism

Eysenck

Extraversion / Arousal / Positive AffectNeuroticism / Activation / Negative AffectPsychoticism / Anger
Atkinson
1		Approach Motivation / Need for Achievement / Joy of SuccessAvoidance Motivation / Fear of Failure / Pain of Failure

Barratt

Action OrientationAnxiety

Cloninger

Behavioral Activation / Novelty SeekingBehavioral Inhibition / Harm AvoidanceBehavioral Maintenance / Reward Dependence

Davidson

Approach / (Non-) DepressionAvoidance / Inhibition / Depression

Depue

Behavioral Facilitation / Mania / Positive EmotionalityBehavioral Inhibition
Dollard and Miller
2		ApproachAvoidance

Fowles

Behavioral Activation / Impulsivity / Positive AffectBehavioral Inhibition / AversionNon-Specific Arousal

Gray

Behavioral Approach / Impulsivity / Positive AffectBehavioral Inhibition / Anxiety / Negative AffectFight vs. Flight / Aggression

Kagan

 Behavioral Inhibition

Newman

Impulsivity / Positive AffectAnxiety / Negative Affect

Revelle

Approach / Instigation of BehaviorAvoidance / Inhibition of BehaviorAggression

Simonov

"Strong" Type (Choleric) vs. "Weak" Type (Melancholic)

Tellegen

Positive Affectivity / Positive AffectNegative Affectivity / Negative AffectConstraint Avoidance

Thayer

Energetic ArousalTense Arousal

Watson and Clark

Positive AffectivityNegative Affectivity

Zuckerman

Extraversion / Positive AffectNeuroticismPsychoticism / Impulsivity / Sensation Seeking / Aggression-Anger

Extraversion

Neuroticism

Psychoticism

(This table is adapted from Revelle [1997], and Eysenck [1990].)

References

Eysenck, H. J. (1967). The biological basis of personality. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

Eysenck, H. J. (1990). Biological dimensions of personality. In L. A. Pervin (Ed.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (pp. 244-276). New York: Guilford.

Revelle, W. (1997, August 12). Three fundamental dimensions of personality [WWW document]. URL http://personality-project.org/perproj/theory/big3.table.html

Strelau, J., & Zawadzki, B. (1997). Temperament and personality: Eysenck's three superfactors as related to temperamental dimensions. In H. Nyborg (Ed.), The scientific study of human nature: Tribute to Hans J. Eysenck at eighty (pp. 68-91). New York: Pergamon.

Zuckerman, M., & Como, P. (1983). Sensation-seeking and arousal systems. Personality and Individual Differences, 4, 381-386.

Last modified January 1999
Visited times since July 2001
Comments?

Home to PEN Model

Home to Great Ideas in Personality