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Karen J. Prager, Ph.D., A.B.P.P. Professor of Psychology and Program Head for Gender Studies Diplomate in Family Psychology The University of Texas at Dallas |
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More Information About Dr. Prager's work Processes in Couple Relationships Teaching and Professional Practice Selected Papers and Publications
For Students:
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Biological Approaches Before biological approaches drew the attention of personality psychologists, infants were presumed to be "blank slates." What does this mean? What is the status of the "blank slate" view today? Hans J. EYSENCK *A pioneer in the biological approach Eysenck's interest in the underlying structure of personality traits is similar to which other theorists that we have studied? What statistical technique did he use to create his hierarchy of traits (p. 254)? How many dimensions of personality did he discover through his research? Those are called? Explain the relationship between the following personality structures in Eysenck’s scheme: specific response level – habitual response – trait – supertrait – Eysenck argued that people with different supertraits differ in their physiological make-up. Eysenck’s physiological theories were not always supported by research. What did he propose was the physiological underpinning of extraversion & introversion? What research support, if any, was there for his idea? Did cross-cultural research support Eysenck’s ideas? How? How do biological factors affect our capacity to change aspects of our personality? Temperament What is a temperament? When are temperaments first observable? Does the presence of temperaments mean that some of us are born to have certain personality traits? If not, why not? Buss and Plomin identified three dimensions of temperament, which are: Emotionality: Activity: Sociability: Temperament is probably inherited. Why do we think so? Does it manifest itself in adult personality? Yes and no (explain):
So is a child a blank slate for parents to draw on? So is a child’s personality set at birth and parents have no influence? Kagan & Moss: identified a trait that is stable from age 3 to 20. Social inhibition: Passive & cautious in the face of novelty (or anxiety to novelty) vs. Immediate self-expression and spontaneity in the face of novelty. What percentage of young children show anxiety to novelty? What percentage show an exceptional lack of anxiety? What kinds of behaviors in young children signal this temperamental characteristic?
What kinds of situations seem most likely to elicit the behaviors?
Inhibited children show quite a few physical differences:
Inhibited children behave differently by 4 months & this distinctive behavior continues. Babies with these activities were more likely to be classified as inhibited at 21 months, 4 years, 5 ½ years. Not all (40% overlap). Does this mean these children are destined to be shy wallflowers all their lives? Why not?
*offers realistic goals for behavior change efforts (and prevents pursuit of unrealistic goals) *good research support – theories are constantly modified in light of research evidence BUT *many untestable ideas |