Theoretical Perspective of the Biological Approach to Personality Psychology
Personality is defined as a person's exceptional deviation on the general evolutionary design for human temperament. A personality trait refers to a durable disposition to act in a certain manner in different situations. Personality traits represent some of the most significant sets of individual disparities in organizations. It is the comparatively set of psychological characteristics that differentiates one person from another. People should strive to comprehend fundamental personality attributes and the manner in which they influence a person's behavior (Griffin 2007).Most perspectives to personality presuppose that some traits are more fundamental compared to others. This concept underlie that a small number of basic personality traits determine other, more superficial traits. With respect to the biological approach to personality, personality traits are determined by human genetic inheritance, behavioral tendencies that develop from evolutionary history and human conduct that generate through intricate biological system, such as neurotransmitters and hormones. Although the biological perspective to personality does not highlight a consistent theoretical approach, it entails a collection of factors that links personality to biology, highlight human behavior and personality origin in evolutionary evidence and theory.
The Brain and Personality
The architecture of the brain is significant in understanding personality. The brain is a modular dispensed, self-organizing system of neural networks. Emotional, behavioral and cognitive functioning are mediated through sequential and parallel processing blueprints of networks that originate in divergent structures and dispensed throughout the brain (Carducci, 2009). Within specific sub-cortical and cortical regions, functional capacities are mapped on the brain in a modular dispensed manner. In studying personality and the brain, the interrelations amid three aspects: psychological abilities, the social environment and biological mechanisms are paramount (Carducci, 2009). As a result, an understanding personality development and the brain systems calls for an extensive comprehension of how these systems interact over time. The brain comprises of populations of cells and billion neurons are devoted to the activity of transmitting information between the periphery and different brain structures. The multiple neural pathways offer the flexibility and complexity of behavior.
Neurophysiology and brain anatomy are crucial to personality. The measurement of the activities of the brain through comparatively old methods such as EEG (Electroencephalography), latest methods such as MEG (Magnetoencephalography), TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), PET (Positron Emission Tomography), and other major techniques help in enhancing the knowledge concerning the brain (Carducci, 2009). PET and FMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanners are used to offer data summaries that determine the regions of the brain that are active during different emotional reactions and mental activities. These techniques are applied to compare brain activities in persons with divergent personality traits.
The Ascending Reticular Activating System (ARAS)
The Ascending Reticular Activating System (ARAS) is the foundation of the introversion and extraversion, and it originates from the central portions of medulla, diencephalon and midbrain. According to Carducci (2009), ARAS is a collection of nerve fibers situated at the bottom of the lower part of the brain and the spinal cord, and it activates the entire brain. The ARAS excites the cerebral cortex cells and reduces incoming stimuli from other sources .ARAS facilitates regulation of arousal level in the brain to allow an individual to operate most efficiently, and it keeps the brain alert. The arousal of the brain increases when a person is excited (Carducci, 2009). However, the brain may direct the ARAS to lower the arousal level under given conditions such as during bedtime. As a result, ARAS can either raise or lower the arousal level depending on the feedback it gets from the brain.
Amygdala
The amygdala is one unit within a system, which is committed to appraising emotion stimuli. The damage to amygdale impairs the judgment of socially crucial facially significant facial expression. PET studies of normal subjects have affirmed the involvement of amygdala in emotional perception. PET Studies show that left amygdala shows more activation when images of fearful faces are shown while the right amygdala is sensitive to happy faces (Andrewes 2001). . People with double-sided damage to amygdala cannot recognize fearful facial expressions although they have no problem recognizing angry facial expressions. The most apparent support for the amygdala as a personality agent is realized from animal research that shows a lesion to the central amygdala leads to tameness, and that a chemical stimulation of the same region leads to behavioral signs of aggression and fear. This type of result is applicable to humans.
Andrewes (2001) highlights analysis of psychosurgery study series that have indicated a reduction in aggression and behavioral disorder in people who have undergone amygdatolomy and amygdalectomy (Andrewes 2001)....
As the individual will assume that this kind of behavior is appropriate given their ancestry and the way the reacted to different stimuli. (Plomin, 2008) Moreover, many individuals will have select attributes that are passed down from previous generations. This will determine if the person is susceptible to certain mental conditions (i.e. schizophrenia and depression). These factors will play an important part in deciding biochemical and genetic causes affecting the
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