Define Theories of Eysenck
Answers
Eysenck's theory of personality focused on two dimensions of higher-order traits, extraversion vs. introversion and emotional stability vs. neuroticism, or emotional instability. Extraverts are commonly known as being loud and outgoing while introverts are often thought of as quiet and reserved.
Using a statistical process known as factor analysis, Raymond Cattell generated sixteen dimensions of human personality traits, known as the 16PF. Eysenck's theory of personality is based on three dimensions: introversion vs. extroversion, neuroticism vs. stability, and psychoticism vs. socialization.
Hans Eysenck (1916-1997) developed a very influential trait theory of personality, which has successful infiltrated the public mindset with regards to how we think about personality in day-to-day life.
Using factor analysis to devise his theory, Eysenck (1947, 1966) identified three factors of personality: extroversion, neuroticism and psychoticism.
Each of the Eysenck Theory factors is a bipolar dimension, meaning that each has a direct opposite:
Extroversion vs. Introversion
Neuroticism vs. Emotional Stability
Psychoticism vs. Self-Control (added to the model in 1966)
It is worth noting that Eysenck's use of the term 'psychoticism' differs from how most clinical psychologists would use the word. Eysenck is referring to anti-social behaviours, not a mental illness.