Hans Eysenck
Summary
Hans Eysenck was a trait theorist who described personality with a few broad, largely heritable dimensions: extraversion–introversion and neuroticism, later adding psychoticism. Testable point: in his arousal theory, extraverts have lower baseline arousal and seek stimulation.
Detail
Meaning: Eysenck was a British psychologist who argued that personality can be summarized by a small number of broad dimensions with a biological basis. His first two were extraversion–introversion and neuroticism (emotional instability versus stability); he later added psychoticism. Crossing the first two gives four combinations that resemble the ancient temperaments.
His biological account links extraversion to baseline cortical arousal. Introverts are proposed to have higher baseline arousal, so they avoid extra stimulation. Extraverts are proposed to have lower baseline arousal, so they seek parties, novelty and risk to raise it. Neuroticism was tied to how easily the limbic system and sympathetic nervous system react to stress.
On the MCAT: Expect him to be placed among the trait (dispositional) theorists with Allport, Cattell and the Big Five model. A passage may describe a person who craves stimulation and ask which dimension or arousal level fits, or cite twin studies to support a biological basis of personality.
Common confusion: Eysenck's model is not the Big Five. It has two dimensions at first, then three, not five (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism). Also, introverts are not under-aroused. In his theory their baseline arousal is higher, which is why they avoid stimulation.
Sources
- Psychology (Myers)
- Theories of Personality (Feist)
Written for the MCAT and checked before it was published. For study reference only. Spotted an error? Let us know.