Introduction to Theories of Personality - Buss

The theory of David Buss, a renowned evolutionary psychologist, focuses on how human behavior, including personality and social interactions, is shaped by evolutionary pressures. Buss’s work primarily revolves around the concept of evolutionary psychology, which suggests that human behavior is deeply rooted in the adaptive challenges faced by our ancestors.

1. DavidBuss:EVOLUTIONARYTHEORYOF
PERSONALITY
OverviewofEvolutionaryTheory
CHARLESDARWIN
Laidthefoundationforthemoderntheoryof
evolution
Explanationforhowevolutionworks,
namelythroughselection(naturalandsexual)
andchance(randomgeneticmutation).
ArtificialSelection
-occurswhenhumansselectparticular
desirabletraitsinbreedingspecies.
NaturalSelection
-natureratherthanpeopleselectthetraits
-itoccurswhentraitsbecomeeithermoreor
lesscommoninspeciesoverlongperiodsof
time.
-involves“evolvedstategies”forspecies
survival.(strategiesareblind-
nonconscious)
-Traitsget“selected”simplybecausethey
leadtogreatersurvivability.
SexualSelection
-operateswhenmembersoftheoppositesex
findcertaintraitsmoreappealingand
attractivethanothers.
-Thekeyisthatthesequalitieshavetobe
themarkersoffitnessthatcan’teasilybe
fake.
Forexample,thepeacock,onlymales
withthehealthiestandbrightestplumageare
mostattractivetopeahens.
Inhumans,strength,physical
beauty,dominance,intelligence,and
statusarequalitiesmanyfindattractive
andarethereforesexuallyselectedfor.
-Humancreativeabilityisasexually
selectedtraitbecauseitisaqualitythat
increasesone’sattractivenesstomembersof
theoppositesex.(GeorgeMIller,2000)
Theevolutionaryprocess(naturalandsexual
selectionandchance)resultsinthreee
distinctoutcomes:
a)Adaptations
-evolvedstrategiesthatsolveimportant
survivaland/orreproductiveproblems.
-oftentheproductsofnaturalorsexual
selectionandmusthaveageneticor
inheritedbasistothem
-example:sweatglands,tastepreferences,
sexualattraction,humanintelligenceand
creativity
b)By-products
-aretraitsthathappenasaresultof
adaptationsbutarenotpartofthefunctional
design.
-“comealongfortheride”ofnaturalor
sexualselection
-ex:scientificability,drivingskill
c)Noise
-or“randomeffects”
-occurswhenevolutionproducesrandom
changesindesignthatdonotaffectfunction.
-tendtobeproducedbychanceandnot
selectedfor.
PrinciplesofEvolutionaryPsychology
CharlesDarwin&HerbertSpencer-first
thinkerstoargueforanevolutionary
perspectiveofpsychologicalthoughtand
behavior.
E.OWilson-hearguedforamergerofthe
bilogicalandsocialsciencesanddubbedhis
movement“sociobiology”
MichaelGhiselin-abiologistwhocoined
theterm“evolutionarypsychology”in
1973
JohnTobby,ananthropologist&Lede
Cosmides,apsychologist-laterpopularized
thetermintheearly19990’s
EvolutionaryPsychology
-definedasthescientificstudyofhumanthought
andbehaviorfromanevolutionaryperspective
andfocusesonfourbigquestions.
(Buss,1999)
(Referthequestionstothebook,p435)
EvolutionaryTheoryofPersonality
Trueoriginofpersonalityisevolution,
meaningthatitiscausedbyaninteraction
betweenaneverchangingenvironmentand
cahngingbodyandbrain.

2. Evolutionalsostartswiththeassumption
thatindividualmembersofanyspecies
differfromoneanother.
ToobyandCosmides-pointedoutearlyand
themarriage,therewasaseriousproblem:
Naturalselectiontypicallyworkstolessen
individualdifferencesinsofarthatsuccessfultraits
andqualitiesbecomethenormandlessadaptive
traitsdieout.
Paradox:“Ifnaturalselectionwinnowsout
maladaptivetraitsandoverthelong-term
producesauniversalhumannature,then
howcanindividualsconsistentlydifferin
theirdispositiontothinkandbehave.”
Someleadingevolutionarypsychologists
arguedfortwosolutions:personality
differenceswereeither,
Noise
“By-products”ofevolvedadaptive
strategies.
TheessenceofBuss’stheoryofpersonality
revolvesaroundadaptiveproblemsandtheir
solutionsormechanisms.
TheNatureandNurtureofPersonality
FundamentalSituationalError
-thetendencytoassumethattheenvironment
alonecanproducebehaviorvoidofastable
internalmechanism.
-“Withoutinternalmechanismstherecanbeno
bheavior.”
FundamentalAttributionError
-thetendencytoignoresituationaland
environmentalforceswhenexplainingthe
behaviorofotherpeopleandinsteadfocuson
internaldisposition.
Thereisnosuchthingaspurelyinternalor
purelyexternalexplanationsofbehavior.
Thetwomustbeinvolvedandinteractin
anybehavior.
EvolvedMechanisms
-aregoodexamplesoftheinteractionofnature
andnurturebecausetheyonlyexistinresponseto
andwiththeinputfromtheenvironment.
Thereisnosplitbetweenbiologicaland
environmental.
Evolutioningeneralisinherentlyan
interactionbetween biology and
environment(natureandnurture).
AdaptiveProblemsandtheirSolutions
(Mechanisms)
2FundamentalProblemsofAdaptation:
a)Survival-food,dangermpredation,etc.
b)Reproduction
“Hostileforcesofnature”-itincludedisease,
parasites,foodshortages,harshclimate,
preadtors,andothernaturalhazards.
SURVIVALisapreconditionfor
reproduction.
Mechanisms
-theprocessofevolutionbynaturalselectionhas
producedsolutionstothesetwobasicproblemsof
life.
-morespecifically,mechanisms
Operateaccordingtoprinciplesindifferent
adaptivedomains
Numberinthedozensorhundreds(maybe
eventhousands)
Arecomplexsolutiontospecificadaptive
problems(survival,reproduction)
2Specificmainclassesofmechanism:
a)PhysicalMechanisms-physiologicalorgans
andsystemsthatevolvedtosolveproblems
ofsurvival.
-oftensharedbymanyspecies.
b)PsychologicalMechanisms-areinternaland
specificcognitive,motivationaland
personalitysystemsthatsolvespecific
survivalandreproductionproblems.
-oftenmorespecifictospecies.
Evolutionarybiology-focusesontheorigin
ofphysicalmechanisms
Evolutionarypsychology-focusesonthe
originofpsychologicalmechansims
Same-sexCompetition
-exampleofareproductiveproblem
-stemsfromthefactindividualsmustcompete
withmembersofthesamesexforaccessto
reproducewiththeoppositesex

3. -“bestingmembersofone’sownsextogain
accesstodesirablemembersoftheoppositesex”
(Buss,1991)
Psychologicalmechanismshavebeavioral
consequences,tacticsandactionsassociated
withthem.
Themainjobofanevolutionarymodelof
personalityistodescribe,study,andexplain
theseenduringpsychologicalmechanisms.
EvolvedMechanisms
Psychologicalmechanisms-areinternalprocesses
thathelpsolveproblemsofsurvivaland/or
reproduction.
-canbegroupedintothreemaincategories:
Goals/drives/motives
Emotions
Personalitytraits
MotivationandEmotionasEvolved
Mechanisms
2goalsandmotivesthatactsasevolved
mechanism.Thesetakesinmanydifferentform:
Power
-takingtheformofaggression,dominance,
achievement,status,“negotiationheirarchy”
Intimacy
-love,attachment,“reciprocalalliance”
Evolutionarypsychologyreferstothese
drivesas“adaptations”becausetheydirectly
affectthehealthandwell-beingofthe
person.
Similarly,emotionsareadaptationsbecause
theydirectlyalerttheindividualtosituations
thatareeitherharmfulorbeneficialto
his/herwell-being.
Motivationandemotionaredirectlylinked
withstablepersonalitytraits.
Motivationispartofpersonality.
PersonalityTraitsasEvolvedMechanisms
Bussstartswiththeassumptionthat
motivation,emotionandpersonalityare
adaptiveinthattheysolveproblemsof
survivalandreproduction.
Hearguesthatthefivemaindimensionsof
personalitycanbebestthoughtofasaway
ofsummarizingsociallandscape;
Thatis,theysignaltootherpeopleour
abilitytosolvesurvivalandreproductive
problems.
Bussconceptualizesindividualdifferences
andpersonalityasstrategiesforsolving
adaptiveproblems.
Thesedispositionsareinherentlyevaluative,
thatis,
theyallowotherstoevaluateusonadaptive
problems
Dispositionssignaltootherpeopletheir
abilitysolvesurvival,andreproductive
problems.
Bussarguesforessentiallythesamefive
personalitydimensionsbutwithslightly
differentterminology.
Moreover,hisviewthatthesebehavioral
dispositionshaveadaptivesignificance:
1.SURGENCY
Involvesthedispositiontoexperience
postiveemotionalstatesandtoengagein
one’senvironmentandtobesociableand
confident.
Driventoachieveandoftentendsto
dominateandleadothers.
Involves“hierarchyproclivities”,how
peoplenegotiateanddeciodewhois
dominantandwhoissubmissive.
Tendencytotakerisks,toexperience
positiveemotionandinitiatingand
maintaningfriendshipsandrelationships.
Drivenandambitious
2.AGREEABLENESS/HOSTILITY
Markedbyaperson’swillingnessand
capacitytocooperateandhelpthegroup.
Warm,cooperative,andgroup-oriented
Likelytoworktosmoothovergroup
conflict;formalliancesbetweenpeople.
Fostergroupcohesionandtendtoconform
groupnorms.

4. 3.EMOTIONALSTABILITY/
NEUROTICISMS
Responsetodangerandthreat
Takesintheformofanxietyasanemotional
stateandemotionalstability/neuroticismas
adispositionaltrait.
Vigilanceorsensitivitytoharmandthreatis
quitenecessaryandadaptive.
Involvesabilitytohandlestressornot.
4.CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
One’scapacityandcommitmenttowork
Carefulanddetail-orientedaswellasfocus
andreliable.
Signalstootherswhomwecantrustwith
tasksandresponsibilities;whomwecan
dependonintimesofneed.
5.OPENNESS
Involvesone’spropensityforinnovationand
abilitytosolveproblems.
Closelyalignedwithintellectand
intelligence.
Explorersofagroup
Expressedinartistsandscientists
Bussarguesthatofthefivepersonality
dimensions,surgency/dominance,
agreeableness,andconsciousnessarethe
mostimportanttraits.
Personalitydifferencesfunctiontosolve
adaptiveproblemsbyprovidinganswersto
thesequestionsforboththeindividualand
forothers.
ORIGINSOFINDIVIDUAL
DIFFERENCES
BussandhiscolleagueHeidiGreiling
proposefourdistinctsourcesofindividual
differences.
Inessencethissourcesofdifferencecome
downtonature(biological-genetic)and
nurture(environmental-social).
ENVIRONMENTALSOURCES
Adaptivedifferencesincreasereproductive
successandone’schanceofsurvival.
EarlyExperientialCalibration
-meantthatchildhoodexperiences
makesomebehavioralstrategiesmore
likelythanothers.
-example:ifpeoplegrowupwithout
afatherpresent;attachmentstyle.
AlternativeNicheSpecialization
-meansthatdifferentpeoplefind
whatmakesthemstandoutfromothersin
ordertogainattentionfromparentsor
socialmates.
-example:birthorder
HERITABLE/GENETICSOURCES
-Bodytype,facialmorphologyand
degreeofphysicalattractivenessactas
heritablesourcesofindividualdifferences.
NONADAPTIVESOURCES
- donotbenefitsurvivalor
reproductivesuccess.
Neutralgeneticvariations
-mostoftentaketheformof
geneticmutations
-neitherharmfulnorbeneficial
totheindividual
MALADAPTIVESOURCES
-activelyharmone’schancefor
survivalordecreaseone’ssexual
attractiveness.
Geneticdefect
-mutationisharmfultotheperson.
-anenvironmentalsourceisseenin
environmentaltrauma,suchasbrainor
spinalcordinjury,whichcanleadto
maladaptiveindividualdifferences.
NEO-BUSSIANECOLUTIONARY
THEORIESOFPERSONALITY
MacDonald
-furtheredBuss’theorywithtwomain
contributions:
1)Tiedpersonalitymorecloselytoevolved
motivationalandemotionalsystems;
2)Arguedthattherangeofpersonality
variationweseeonthemaindimensionsof
personalityareviablealternativestrategies
formaximizingfitness.
Nettle
-ArguedthatToobyandCosmides’sargument
thatpersonalitycouldnotbeanadaptationfailed
toappreciatehowenvironmentalchangeand

5. variabilitywouldultimatelyselectforindividual
differencesinbehaviorwithingivenspecies.
-Inshort,evolutionfavorsindividualdifferences
becausenoonecanpredictwhatthefutureholds
andwhichqualitieswillbestmatchchangesin
environment.
-Furthermore,Nettlehypothesizedtherehave
beenfitnesscostsandbenefitsofeachBigFive
dimensionsofpersonality
COMMONMISUNDERSTANDINGSIN
EVOLUTIONARYTHEORY
Evolutionimpliesgeneticdeterminism
(Behaviorassetinstoneandvoidof
influencefromtheenvironment).
Evolutionoccursfromtheinteraction
betweenadaptationsandinputfromthe
environmentthattriggerstheadaptation.
Epigenetics
-changeingenefunctionthat
doesnotinvolvechangesinDNA
-Itmakesclearthatthe
experienceswehave(eating,drinking,
orbeingexposedtochemicals)can
affectchangesingenes.
Executingadaptationsrequiresconscious
mechanisms
Forexample,theideaof“inclusive
fitness”
Strategiesarenottobethoughtofas
consciousorwillfulacts
SexualStrategy
-Evolutionhasshaoedour
preferencesformatesbasedonthefact
thatweareattractedtothosewhoproduce
healthyandfitoffspringandideally
continuetoprovideforthem.
Mechanismsareoptimallydesigned
Someadaptationsareratherawkward.
RELATEDRESEARCH
Thereissomuchsupportfortheevolutionary
basisofhumanpersonality,whichcanbedivided
intoatleastthreegeneraltopics:
Temperament
Genetics
AnimalPersonality
I.TemperamentandthePre-andPost-Natal
Environment
Temperament
-laysthefoundationforlaterpersonalitytraits.
-expressedbeforeandimmediatelyafterbirth
meansitdevelopsmostlyfrombiologicalsystems,
butismodifiedbyinputfromtheenvironment.
Evidencesuggeststhattemperament
andpersonalitydifferencesaremanifesteven
beforebirth,prenatally.
Theprenatalenvironmentplaysan
importantroleinshapingpersonality.
Afterbirth,intheimmediatepost-natal
period,newborninfantsalreadtdisplayregular
andconsistentdifferenceinbehavior.
Thesebehavioraldifferencesaremost
pronouncedinfourdimensionsof
temperament:
Activity
Emotionality
Sociability
Impulsivity
II.GeneticsandPersonality
Monogenetictransmission
-happenswhensinglegenesproducesingle
traits(phenotypes)
PolygenicTransmission
-occurswhenmanygenesinteracttocreate
asinglecharacteristic
Whenstudyingbehavioralgenetics,
researchersusetwomajormethodsto
examinetherelationshipamonggenetics,
behavior,andpersonality.
1.QuantitativeTraitLoci(QTL)Approach
-theylookforthelocationofthespecific
bitsofDNAongenesgenesthatmightbe
associatedwithparticularbehaviors.
2.Twin-adoptionStudies
III.AnimalPersonality