Eysenck and Norman
Modified: 2020-04-21
Eysenck regarded personality as being primarily an inborn phenomenon.
That means that personality, to him, is more like eye color or height
than it is like learned phenomena. He proposed a scheme with
three dimensions: neurotic vs. stable, extraverted vs. introverted,
and stupid vs. intelligent. Further, he created a test to measure
individuals on those three dimensions. Notice how the study of
personality reflects the nature-nurture problem discussed much
earlier. Eysenck's theory leans toward the nature end of the
continuum, while learning and social learning theories are closer to
the nurture end.
Norman's "Big Five" personality traits are similar to Eysenck's.
The big five traits are neuroticism, extroversion, openness,
agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Notice how Norman's proposal
may serve as a bridge between biological and learned theories. Also,
notice how many fewer traits are used by Eysenck and Norman compared
to the 16 used by Cattell in formulating the 16 PF.
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