Personality a Neurobiological Model of Extraversion Essay

Personality: a Neurobiological Model of Extraversion Underlying the question of whether brain equals behavior is the possibility that ones personality may be understood on a neurobiological level. Personality affects how a person will behave in certain situations. Peoples attitudes towards their environments, their dispositions, personal preferences and dislikes all help determine their everyday actions. If behavior is controlled by the nervous system, these factors which make up a persons personality must also fall under its direction. This does not refer to whether ones personality is a result of environment or genomic make-up. It has already been proposed that personality is 50%-70% hereditary and that home environment has†¦show more content†¦Recently Richard Depue (4) has developed the model further, proposing that extraversion is not a change in overall arousal level. Rather it is a motivated behavior; extraverts demonstrate an increased sensitivity to reward signals (incentive motivated behavior.) They seek social domin ance and achievement, and react accordingly in social situations. According to Depue there are three criterion necessary to establish the neurobiological basis of such a personality: a) define the network of neural structures associated with the trait, b) explain how individual differences occur within the functioning of that network and c) identify the sources of individual differences. Using an animal model Depue found that the ventral tegmental area dopamine projection system facilitates incentive motivated behavior in rats. Dopamine agonists and antagonists in the ventral tegmental area facilitate and impair respectively exploratory, aggressive, social and sexual behavior. Similar phenomena is observed in humans-- dopamine activating drugs tend to stimulate an enhanced interaction with the environment. Individual differences in dopamine levels, as expected with extraversion, can result both genetically and environmentally. Different strains of inbred mice display differing dopam ine and extraversion levels. While this supports the genetic explanation for individual personality differences, experience also plays a role. Ventral tegmentalShow MoreRelatedEssay on Extroversion, Introversion, and the Brain2412 Words   |  10 PagesIntroversion, and the Brain The terms extrovert and introvert are often used to describe individuals interpersonal relations, but what do these terms mean precisely, and is there a neurobiological basis for these personality traits? The terms originated from psychologist Carl Jungs theory of personality. Jung saw the extrovert as directed toward the outside world and the introvert as directed toward the self (1). He characterized extroverts as being energized by being around other peopleRead MoreThe Science Behind Our Individual Personalities2065 Words   |  9 PagesWhat is the science behind our individual personalities? The truth is genetics plays a greater role in shaping our personalities than simple environmental factors. We have been taught in school that our cultural differences or environment, and genetic material influences who we become as people. Even though we all believe to a certain degree that our experiences shape who we are, there actually are not many people who believe, just like Aristotle, that we are a tabula rasa (blank slate). FurthermoreRead MoreAbnormal Psychology. Classification and Assessment of Abnormal Behavior20707 Words   |  83 Pages3 CHAPTER Classification and Assessment of Abnormal Behavior CHAPTER OUTLINE HOW ARE ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR PATTERNS METHODS OF ASSESSMENT 80–99 CLASSIFIED? 70–77 The Clinical Interview The DSM and Models of Abnormal Behavior Computerized Interviews Psychological Tests STANDARDS OF ASSESSMENT 77–80 Neuropsychological Assessment Reliability Behavioral Assessment Validity Cognitive Assessment Physiological Measurement SOCIOCULTURAL AND ETHNIC FACTORS IN ASSESSMENT 99–100 SUMMING UP 100–101 T