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Week 3: Biological Processes and Personality - Coggle Diagram
Week 3: Biological Processes and Personality
Behavioural Approach System
developed by Jeffrey Gray
Functions
psychological gas pedal :racing_car:
reward-seeking system that regulates movement towards incentives
responsible for positive emotions
emotions that naturally arise while anticipating a reward
hope, eagerness, excitement
Biological
Basis
Left Prefrontal Cortex
increased activity when presented with
incentives
or
positive emotional adjectives
activated by the
approach process
(desire for rewards)
approach process succeeding with rewards almost gained leading to joy :smiley:
approach process thwarted due to removal of rewards leading to anger :angry:
:chart_with_upwards_trend: Resting levels
Positive responses to happy films
increased efforts in pursuing rewards
Dopamine
neurotransmitter in the brain
Reward-Based Learning View
:chart_with_upwards_trend: dopamine in response to rewards increases learning of
approach
responses
:chart_with_downwards_trend: dopamine from lack of rewards increase learning of
avoidance
responses
Motivation View
Mice Studies
Can learn from rewards without dopamine
Dopamine involved in
motivation
and
effort
made to pursue rewards
Dopaminergic
Neurons
Better than expected outcome
Respond strongly :smiley:
(eg. unexpected rewards)
Expected outcome
Do not respond :neutral_face:
(eg. expected reward)
Worse than
expected outcome
Decreased response :sleeping:
(eg. expected reward does not occur)
Sensitivity
Learning
BAS responds selectively to incentives
More sensitive to learning regarding positive outcomes
evidence of social incentive systems
specialised sensitivities to relationship incentives
independent of threat sensitivity
one can be drawn to social incentives and yet fearful of social interactions
Sensitive BAS highly responsive to incentives / potential rewards
emotionally
or
behaviourally
Extraversion
Varying definitions of
qualities
associated with extraversion
Sociability
completely ignored by Gray in definitions
can be resolved by viewing social interactions as rewards and incentives
can be resolved by viewing extraversion as the result of BAS sensitivity and social-specific BAS sensitivity
view that
reward sensitivity
and
positive affect
are key to extraversion
extroverts drawn to situations that are potentially rewarding, social or not
sociability is a result of extroverts chasing positive affect
Social Dominance
Sense of
activity
and
agency
Impulsivity
included under extraversion by Eysenck until he moved it to psychoticism
Factor analysis
Impulsivity does not load with extraversion
Size of BAS regions (eg. medial orbitofrontal cortex) correlated with extraversion levels
Extraversion
correlates
with approach sensitivity
predicted positive feelings
both extroverts and individuals with high BAS sensitivity have high emotional response to rewards
Behavioural Inhibition System
Functions
psychological brake pedal :no_entry:
regulates movement away from undesired states or objects
responsible for negative emotions (
anxiety
, fear, guilt)
Biological Basis
Right Prefrontal Cortex
increased activity when viewing unpleasant films or experiencing unpleasant emotions
:chart_with_upwards_trend: Resting levels
:chart_with_upwards_trend: negative emotional responses to unpleasant films
Neurotransmitters
Serotonin
purportedly involved in
anxiety
or
threat sensitivity
strong disputes over this claim
GABA
GABA receptor sensitivity has been linked to
neuroticism
research focus tends towards
anxiety disorders
(mainly panic disorder)
:chart_with_downwards_trend: GABA in panic disorder patients
Treatments that :chart_with_upwards_trend: GABA can :chart_with_downwards_trend: panic disorder symptoms
Norepinephrine
produced in response to
stress
linked with panic reactions
anxiety disorders linked with inability to regulate norepinephrine
Sensitive BIS highly responsive to threats
emotionally
or
behaviourally
Sensitivity
independent of incentive sensitivity
one can be drawn to social incentives and yet fearful of social interactions
Sensation Seeking
developed by Marvin Zuckerman
desire new, varied and
exciting experiences
Drive faster :racing_car:
More sexually experienced and responsive
More dissatisfied with relationships and more likely to cheat
High risk sports :skier:
More likely to do drugs :pill: and increase alcohol use :beer_mugs: over time
Functions
View that it regulates ones decision to be exposed to high/low intensity stimuli
:chart_with_upwards_trend: Sensation seekers
Excel in overstimulating conditions :hocho:
Display antisocial qualities in less demanding situations
:chart_with_downwards_trend: Sensation seekers
Better adapted to typical life experiences :house_with_garden:
Shut down psychologically in intense situations (:snail: :zap:)
Impulsive unsocialised sensation seeking (IUSS)
inability to inhibit behaviour appropriate to social constraints
implicated in antisocial personality disorder
focuses on short-term consequences over long-term consequences
impulse over restraint
Trait Relations
IUSS
relates
inversely
to
agreeableness
and
conscientiousness
from five-factor model
relates
inversely
to
constraint
from Tellegen's model
relates to
psychoticism
in Eysenck's model
Effortful Control
about focus and restraint
related to the
prefrontal cortex
, the part of the brain that manages executive function
emerges slower :snail: than approach or avoidance temperaments
one of the determinants of the winner in the struggle between
action
and
restraint
Biological Basis
Monoamine Oxidase
regulates neurotransmitters
relates to
dominance
and
aggression
genes related to MAO levels linked to
aggression
and
impulsitivity
Serotonin
MAO an indicator of brain activity in
serotonin system
Serotonergic pathways involved in
impulse control
studies found
lowering
serotonin led to :chart_with_upwards_trend:
hostility
and
aggressiveness
among people high in aggressive tendencies
:chart_with_downwards_trend: serotonin means :chart_with_downwards_trend: restraint of one's basic tendencies
:chart_with_downwards_trend: serotonergic function linked to :chart_with_upwards_trend: aggression in
nonclinical
studies
NEO-PI-R Study
:chart_with_downwards_trend: serotonergic function linked to :chart_with_upwards_trend: life history of
aggression
,
impulsiveness
and
neuroticism
:chart_with_upwards_trend: serotonergic function linked with :chart_with_upwards_trend:
conscientiousness
:chart_with_upwards_trend: serotonergic function inhibits positive and negative affect
Hormones
Testosterone
Early life differences
:male_sign: have :chart_with_upwards_trend: testosterone than :female_sign:
Week 8 - 24 of gestation
1 to 5 months after birth
Post puberty
Effects
Responsible for physical and neurophysiological changes that result in gender differences
animal research suggests male and female brains are extremes in a continuum
Differences in neural development
Synaptic linkages
Size of certain brain structures
Both sides of cortex are :chart_with_upwards_trend: connected in :female_sign: than in :male_sign:
Effects of :chart_with_upwards_trend: Tt
Childhood
Children prenatally exposed to hormones due to pregnancy complications
:male_sign:: chose aggression more than :female_sign:
Boys and girls prenatally exposed to hormones :chart_with_upwards_trend: likely to choose aggression than siblings
CAH girls
spent :chart_with_upwards_trend: time on boys toys than normal girls
spent :chart_with_downwards_trend: time on girls toys than normal girls
:chart_with_upwards_trend: independence when playing in the playground
Adult
studies usually focus on effects on dominance and antisocial behaviour
men in prison with
:chart_with_upwards_trend: testosterone
:chart_with_upwards_trend: likely to violate prison rules
:chart_with_upwards_trend: dominant
:chart_with_upwards_trend: likely to have committed violent crimes
men that committed murder
:chart_with_upwards_trend: testosterone :arrow_right: :chart_with_upwards_trend: likely to have premeditated the act and killed someone they knew
Military veterans :hocho:
with :chart_with_upwards_trend: t.tone
:chart_with_upwards_trend: risky behaviour
:chart_with_upwards_trend: likelihood to AWOL
:chart_with_upwards_trend: trouble with others while growing up
effects strongest along those with
low SES
SES
:chart_with_upwards_trend: testosterone more common in occupations that require
social dominance
actors, football players
:chart_with_upwards_trend: testosterone linked with lower SES as it promotes antisocial behaviour and disrupts education
:chart_with_upwards_trend: Tt prefer high status positions and perform :chart_with_upwards_trend:
Interactions
:chart_with_downwards_trend: friendly smiles
:chart_with_upwards_trend: dominance in their gaze during conversations
display :chart_with_upwards_trend: independence and confidence in interactions with strangers
Relationshps
:chart_with_downwards_trend: likely to be married
:chart_with_upwards_trend: likely to divorce
:chart_with_upwards_trend: to have extramarital sex and commit domestic abuse
Cycles of Action
Stituational Causes
:chart_with_upwards_trend: after sex
:chart_with_upwards_trend: after showing off in front of attractive person (eg. skating)
increases after good :check: experiences such as victory in competitive events (
solo
/
team
)
:chart_with_downwards_trend: with defeat
:chart_with_upwards_trend: after being insulted
Behavioural Effects
:chart_with_upwards_trend: sexually active
Spiralling effect
Victory
:chart_with_upwards_trend: proactive in seeking out opportunities for competition and dominance :trophy:
:chart_with_upwards_trend: responsive to rewards and :chart_with_downwards_trend: to losses
Defeat
:chart_with_downwards_trend: assertive and avoids new competition
:chart_with_downwards_trend: empathy and :chart_with_downwards_trend: ability to notice anger :angry: in facial expressions
Evolution
Oxytocin
Function
relaxes and sedates
:arrow_down: fear
:arrow_up: mother-infant bonding
Effects
Personality
relates to :chart_with_downwards_trend: aggression
Oxytocin genes relate to negative affectivity and
social inhibition
Social interactions
:chart_with_upwards_trend: ability to infer others' mental states empathically
:chart_with_upwards_trend: tendency to conform with ingroups
:chart_with_upwards_trend: in trust and willingness to take on risks in social interactions with strangers
released during orgasm, childbirth, massage and breastfeeding
inhibited under stress :no_entry: by
androgens
and activated by
estrogen
Stress Responses
Fight or Flight
evidence mostly from research on male rats
Tend and Befriend
:muscle: in females :female_sign:
difference in responses that arised due to :chart_with_upwards_trend: investment in offspring
Tend
ability to soothe crying babies so they avoid being detected by threats
Befriend
bonding with others
protection from external threats through access to a larger community
:chart_with_upwards_trend: chance of receiving help from others within the community
Disorders
Anxiety :fearful:
linked with a
sensitive
BIS
exposure to frequent punishment in childhood
learn anxiety responses and cues to stimuli
clinical symptoms such as phobias, panic attacks and OCD
worsened by deficits in systems that regulate effortful control
negative emotions are intensified
Depression :frowning_face:
weak BAS?
:chart_with_downwards_trend: motivation to approach incentives
Oversensitive BIS?
Antisocial Personality
Oversensitive
BAS
pursue any incentive
Deficits in BIS
fail to learn from
punishment
not motivated to avoid punishment
:chart_with_downwards_trend: MAO
in third system
Study of boys with genes causing low MAO
:chart_with_upwards_trend: antisocial behaviour if they were maltreated during childhood
Eysenck
Extraversion
Biological Basis
differences in baseline levels of
cortical arousal
Extraverts
:loudspeaker:
:chart_with_downwards_trend: cortical arousal
seek stimulation to increase arousal
Introverts
:books:
:chart_with_upwards_trend: cortical arousal
avoid social interaction to reduce arousal
Evidence
Vigilance Tasks
Alertness for specific stimuli over prolonged time periods
introverts perform better with fewer mistakes
Drug effects
introverts
need :chart_with_downwards_trend: stimulant levels to reach same arousal level as
extroverts
introverts
need :chart_with_upwards_trend: depressants to reach same level of
unalertness
as
extroverts
Neuroticism
Biological Basis
caused by easily aroused
emotion centres
high emotional arousal heightens extraversion/introversion behaviours
Saw personality as based off two supertraits that are biologically ingrained
Treatments
Pharmacotherapy
altering biological functions to change manifestation of disorders
Lithium
for
bipolar disorders
80%
response rate
serious side effects
Dopamine inhibitors
for schizophrenia
SSRIs for anxiety
in neurotypicals
linked with :chart_with_downwards_trend: hostility
and :chart_with_downwards_trend:negativity
:chart_with_upwards_trend: positive social behaviour in cooperative tasks
:chart_with_upwards_trend: self-direction (proactiveness)