Personality, Motivation And Emotion 2014a

Personalitycharacteristics:Individual differences inhappiness, arousal, and controlPersonalitycharacteristics Extraversion Neuroticism Sensation seeking Affect intensity Perceived control Desire for controlThree motivationalprinciples Happiness Arousal ControlReading:Reeve (2009)Ch 13(pp. 367-390)2Outline – Individual Differences inHappiness, Arousal, and Control Happiness Extraversion & happinessNeuroticism & sufferingExtraverts & neurotics Control Perceived controlDesire for controlArousal Performance & emotionInsufficient stimulation & underarousalExcessive stimulation & overarousalCredibility of the inverted-U hypothesisSensation seekingAffect intensityBased on Reeve (2009, p. 367)3

Individual differences inhappiness, arousal, & controlBased on Reeve (2009, pp. 368-369)Why do different peoplehave different motivationaland emotional states evenin the same situation?4Happiness& Personality5Personality as typologyBased on Reeve (2009, Figure 13.1, p. 369)

Personality types vs. traits Relatively few people are at either end of apersonality characteristic (most people aremid-way)Beware of typologies' oversimplificationFor example:Focus on “extraversion” (as a trait) rather“introverts vs. extraverts” (as a typology).Based on Reeve (2009, pp. 368-369)7The big 5 personality traits The “Big 5” superordinate traits are wellsupported by a wide variety of research. Measures– NEO (Costa & McCrae, 1980s)– IPIP – freely available Some disagreement about the namingof these traits.8

The big 5 personality traitsThe Big 5 according to Costa andMcCrae (1985): NeuroticismExtraversionOpenness to ExperienceAgreeablenessConscientiousnessTip: Remember as NEOAC rather than OCEANbecause it conveys order of variance explained.10The big 5 personality traitsTraitDescriptionNeuroticismCalm vs anxiousSecure vs insecureSelf-satisfied vs self-pitying(vs. Emotional stability)Extraversion(vs. Introversion)Openness(vs. Closedness)Agreeableness(vs. Disagreeableness)Conscientiousness(vs. Carelessness)Sociable vs retiringFun-loving vs soberAffectionate vs reservedImaginative vs practicalPreference for variety vs routineIndependent vs conformingSoft-hearted vs ruthlessTrusting vs suspiciousHelpful vs uncooperativeOrganised vs disorganisedCareful vs carelessDisciplined vs impulsiveAdapted from McCrae & Costa (1986, p. 1002)11Personality traits motivation, emotion, and behaviourPersonality traits: cause people to react differently todifferent situations, e.g., positively or negatively cause people to approach and avoiddifferent situations determine choice and alteration ofsituations, e.g., approach, avoid, or modifysituationBased on Deckers (2010, pp. 210-212)12

Are you happy?Do you experience veemotion frequently?How intense and deep isthe happiness that youexperience?Do you feel vital and alive?Are you unhappy?Do you suffer emotionally?How intensely do youexperience negativeemotions?Is your typical day anemotional roller-coaster?Based on Reeve (2009, pp. 368-369)13Happiness and unhappinessare related, but separate,dimensions14Big 5 personality factors & happinessHappy studentpersonality profile: Neuroticism Extraversion Aggreeableness Conscientiousness Openness15Source: “Very Happy People” by E. Diener & M. E. P. Seligman, 2002, Psychological Science, 13, Table 3, p. 84.

Personality & ssHappinessset pointUnhappinessset pointBased on Reeve (2009, p. 370)16Extraversion & happinessExtraversionThose with stronger extraversion have a greater capacityto experience positive emotions and a stronger and moresensitive Behavioral Activating Systems (BAS).Eagerness to approach potentially rewarding situationsExtraverts are moresociable thanintrovertsExtraverts exhibitgreater socialdominance thanintrovertsExtraverts are moreventuresome thanintrovertsBased on Reeve (2009, Figure 13.2 Components of extraversion, p. 371)17Neuroticism & happinessNeuroticismThose with stronger neuroticism tend to experience morefrequent and intense negative emotions and a strongerand more sensitive Behavioral Inhibition Systems (BIS).Eagerness to avoid potentially punishing situationsGreater avoidance behaviour and emotional distress(than emotionally stable individuals)Based on Reeve (2009, pp. 372-373)18

Happiness economics HE Quantitative study of happiness,positive and negative affect, well-being,quality of life, life satisfaction etc., typicallycombining economics with other fields suchas psychology and sociology.HE has grown substantially since the late20th century, for example, by thedevelopment of methods, surveys andindices to measure happiness and relatedconcepts.e.g., World Database of Happiness e well-beingin 97 countriesBased on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happiness economicsEasterlin paradox (1974) Within a given country people with higherincomes are more likely to report beinghappy.However, in international comparisons, theaverage reported level of happiness doesnot vary much with national income perperson, at least for countries with incomesufficient to meet basic needs.Based on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happiness economics21

Happy Planet Index Environmental efficiency of supporting well-being (Ratio ofhappiness to resource consumption (sustainability))Countries shaded by their position in the HPI (2006)Highest-ranked countries are bright greenLowest are brownBased on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy Planet IndexNatural happiness andsynthetic happinessNatural happiness: Occurs when youget what you want. Synthetic happiness: Occurs when youaccept that you didn't get what youwant. Synthetichappiness is as real as naturalhappiness e.g., in dating, you look to get what you want, inmarriage, you find a way to like what you’ve got.23Why are we happy?Dan GilbertVideo (21 mins 20 secs):http://www.ted.com/talks/dan gilbert asks why are we happy.html24

Arousal25Arousal Arousal levels mostly reflect how stimulating theenvironment isPeople engage in behaviour to or their level ofarousal: When underaroused, people seek out opportunities to their arousal levels, because s in environmental stimulation are pleasurable andenhance performance whereas s are aversive and undermine performance When overaroused, people seek out opportunities to their arousal levels, because s in environmental stimulation are aversive and undermineperformance whereas s are pleasurable and enhance performance Based on Reeve (2009, p. 374)26

Performance & arousalOriginal Yerkes-Dodson (1908) diagram. The Hebbian curveleft out the top line showing that increased arousal did notadversely impact performance during simple tasks.Based on kesDodson.JPGInsufficient stimulation & underarousalSensory deprivation:An individual’s sensory and emotional experience in arigidly unchanging environment.motives forcounteracting insufficientstimulation and underarousal.Human beings harbourBased on Reeve (2009, pp. 375-377)29Insufficient stimulation & underarousalHeron’s sensory deprivation studyThe brain and nervous system prefer a continual andmoderate level of arousal generated by environmentalstimulation.Based on Reeve (2009, Figure 13.4, p. 376)30

Excessive stimulation & tfulness,impaired concentrationsympathetic,nervous system,hyperactivityHumans are motivated to counteract excessivestimulation and overarousal.Based on Reeve (2009, p. 377)31Sensory isolation tanks Sensory isolation tanksminimise gherconsciousness"Over the last 25 years I have exhausted numerous addictions andrelationships in pursuit of the very sensation - or state of being actually that the floatation tank gave me in one hour. No drug-induced euphoria,no sexual or romantic high, no nicotine or food fix, nor any spiritualventure ever brought me as close to my desired destination as the floattank did. This illusively defined 'destination' became much clearer to meafter floating in the tank. It's a truly remarkable and freeing experience.”- Annie C - http://www.samadhitank.com/32Credibility of the inverted-U hypothesis Neiss’scriticismDescriptive rather than explanatory Does not apply to everyday affairs in whicharousal level changes relatively little. Revelle,Amaral, & Turriff’sexperiment (1976) The inverted-U hypothesis applies nicely toeveryday sources of stimulation – e.g.,caffeine and time pressure.Based on Reeve (2009, pp. 377-379)33

Sensation seekingPersonality characteristic related toarousal and reactivity.Related to the extent to which aperson’s central nervous system(brain and spinal cord) requireschange and variability.Based on Reeve (2009, p. 379)34Sensation seekingDefined as “the seeking of varied,novel, complex, and intensesensations and experiences, and thewillingness to take physical, social,legal, and financial risks for the sakeof such experiences”.(Zuckerman, 1994)Based on Reeve (2009, p. 379)35Sensation seeking &sensory deprivation Zuckermanwas a graduatestudent in sensory deprivationstudies. Became interested in subjectswho: hated deprivationcouldn’t tolerate low levels of stimulationwanted new experiences36

Sensation seeking Sensationseeking determineshow a person reacts to asituation or event. Sensation seeking determinesthe situations and activities aperson chooses.37Who was higher insensation seeking?Steve IrwinPrincess Diana38Sensation seeking Those high in sensation seeking need higherlevels of stimulation to maintain positive mood. when stimulation falls mood slumps.push to keep stimulation levels as high as possible.enjoy more intense sensations and experiencessearch for novel experiencesprefer unusual stimuli and situationschoose things that are out of the ordinarysee sensations and experiences being worth physical,social, legal, or financial risksengage in risky sports and activitiesare susceptible to boredom39

Sensation seekers – Biological basisSSs have levels of monoamineoxidase (MAO) (enzyme that metabolises monoamines, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine)SSs tend to have relatively levels ofdopamine their biochemistry favoursapproach over inhibition SSs tend to have relatively levels ofserotonin their biochemistry fails toinhibit them from risks and newexperiences Based on Reeve (2009, pp. 379-381)40Sensation Seeking Scale(SSS; Zuckerman) Thrill and adventure seeking(action gamblers) Seek experiences outside theconventional lifestyle(travel, friends, art) Disinhibition: release of inhibitions,escape the pressures of daily life.(escape gamblers) Low tolerance for boredom, repetitionand sameness.41SS and addictionSensation seeking is correlated with: Alcoholism GamblingPerhaps SS is common in alladdictions42

ControlPerceived controlDesire for controlThe extent to which anindividual believes thats/he possesses thecapacity needed toproduce positiveoutcomes.The extent to whichindividuals aremotivated to establishcontrol over the eventsin their lives.Based on Reeve (2009, p. 384)45

Perceived controlIn order to perceive that one has controlover a given situation 1. The self must be capable of obtaining theavailable desired outcome.2. The situation in which one attempts toexercise control needs to be at leastsomewhat predictable and responsive.Based on Reeve (2009, p. 384)46Perceived controlGoal settingTask choice Effort Concentration Persistence in the face ofdifficulty Positive emotional states Problem-solving strategies Performance Perceivedcontrol beliefs High perceivedcontrolvs.Low perceived controlBased on Reeve (2009, pp. 384-385)47Self-confirming cycles of highand low engagementPerceivedcontrol beliefsHigh vs. LowActualoutcomesBased on Reeve (2009, pp. 385-386)Engagementvs.disaffection48