| Revision as of 00:15, 22 April 2013 editVanished user adhmfdfmykrdyr (talk | contribs)57,163 edits →III. Individual Differences and Personality← Previous edit | Revision as of 00:16, 22 April 2013 edit undoVanished user adhmfdfmykrdyr (talk | contribs)57,163 edits →II. The Big Five Personality Traits: merge into and remove unsourced materialNext edit → | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
| An evolutionary ] can supplement and enhance current personality theory about the adaptive functions for genetic differences that influence personality, potential ] mechanisms governing personality structure, aspects of developmental environment should be expected to affect, the degree that individuals should be affected by different environments, and why personality traits are responsive to environmental modulation.<ref name ="Figueredo et al."/> Novel research has found evidence that supports an integrative model wherein facultative calibration operates in conjunction with specific genetic polymorphisms and has joint effects in determining personality variation.<ref name ="Lukaszewski et al., 2011">Aaron W. Lukaszewski1 and James R. Roney1. The Origins of Extraversion: Joint Effects of Facultative Calibration and Genetic PolymorphismPers Soc Psychol Bull March 2011 37:409-421.</ref> | An evolutionary ] can supplement and enhance current personality theory about the adaptive functions for genetic differences that influence personality, potential ] mechanisms governing personality structure, aspects of developmental environment should be expected to affect, the degree that individuals should be affected by different environments, and why personality traits are responsive to environmental modulation.<ref name ="Figueredo et al."/> Novel research has found evidence that supports an integrative model wherein facultative calibration operates in conjunction with specific genetic polymorphisms and has joint effects in determining personality variation.<ref name ="Lukaszewski et al., 2011">Aaron W. Lukaszewski1 and James R. Roney1. The Origins of Extraversion: Joint Effects of Facultative Calibration and Genetic PolymorphismPers Soc Psychol Bull March 2011 37:409-421.</ref> | ||
| == |
==The Big Five Personality Traits== | ||
| {{merge section|Big Five personality traits}} | |||
| Personality is a source that can tell us important social dilemmas faced by our ancestors. The ] reveal important social landscapes, and the traits themselves reference particular human qualities that influenced evolutionarily behavior for our ancestors. There are well documented ] in personality, attributed to differences in male and female reproductive strategies performed in the ancestral environment. For example, traits for dominance and aggression are seen as more beneficial to the reproductive ] of men, thereby the selection of these traits in women are lower and more relaxed.<ref name = "Budaev, 1999"> | Personality is a source that can tell us important social dilemmas faced by our ancestors. The ] reveal important social landscapes, and the traits themselves reference particular human qualities that influenced evolutionarily behavior for our ancestors. There are well documented ] in personality, attributed to differences in male and female reproductive strategies performed in the ancestral environment. For example, traits for dominance and aggression are seen as more beneficial to the reproductive ] of men, thereby the selection of these traits in women are lower and more relaxed.<ref name = "Budaev, 1999"> | ||
| Budaev, S. V. (1999). Sex differences in the big five personality factors: Testing an evolutionary hypothesis. Personality and Individual Differences, 26(5), 801-813.</ref> | Budaev, S. V. (1999). Sex differences in the big five personality factors: Testing an evolutionary hypothesis. Personality and Individual Differences, 26(5), 801-813.</ref> | ||
| Individual variations of these personality traits are theorized to balance along an ever changing optimum dependant on place and time.<ref name ="Nettle, 2006">Nettle, D. (2006). The evolution of personality variation in humans and other animals. American Psychologist, 61(6), 622-631.</ref> |
Individual variations of these personality traits are theorized to balance along an ever changing optimum dependant on place and time.<ref name ="Nettle, 2006">Nettle, D. (2006). The evolution of personality variation in humans and other animals. American Psychologist, 61(6), 622-631.</ref> | ||
| ===Openness=== | ===Openness=== | ||
| Line 30: | Line 31: | ||
| ===Agreeableness=== | ===Agreeableness=== | ||
| ] is a trait that is essential for socializing and relating to peers. Empathy and ] are often associated with this quality, and high levels are seen beneficial to the fitness success of an individual (greater relations with one’s peers often leads to an advantage when attempting to find a mate). Agreeable individuals tend to avoid violence, resulting in an increase in their chances of survival. | |||
| Although it is true that a high level of agreeableness can result in individual success, there are limits to the advantages. An individual exhibiting too much trust and empathy towards others is prone to being taken advantage of, which can endanger their well-being, especially in potentially life threatening situations.<ref name ="Nettle, 2006"/> | Although it is true that a high level of agreeableness can result in individual success, there are limits to the advantages. An individual exhibiting too much trust and empathy towards others is prone to being taken advantage of, which can endanger their well-being, especially in potentially life threatening situations.<ref name ="Nettle, 2006"/> | ||
Revision as of 00:16, 22 April 2013
This template is being used in the wrong namespace. To nominate this user page for deletion, go to Miscellany for deletion.
| An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion, which will decide whether or not to retain it.Feel free to improve the article, but do not remove this notice before the discussion is closed. For more information, see the guide to deletion. Find sources: "Evolutionary psychology of Personality" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR%5B%5BWikipedia%3AArticles+for+deletion%2FEvolutionary+psychology+of+Personality%5D%5DAFD |
Evolutionary Psychology of Personality
I. Evolutionary Psychology and Personality Psychology
Novel research has been conducted on personality psychology from an evolutionary perspective. Evolutionary psychology examines the variation between species and seeks to identify specific evolved psychological mechanisms that explain human nature. Personality psychology examines the proximate explanations for individual differences between people. Viewing personality and individual differences through evolutionary theory has potential to enrich personality theory and to uncover the ultimate causes of personality characteristics. David Buss proposes that personality characteristics may not reflect noise or by products of other adaptations, but might have an adaptive function. Integrating personality theory and the theory of evolution, Buss proposes that variation may be due to differences in personality may be heritable alternative strategies and may be calibrations to fluctuating strategies or thresholds throughout development or personality may reflect contextual differences.
An evolutionary theoretical framework can supplement and enhance current personality theory about the adaptive functions for genetic differences that influence personality, potential proximate mechanisms governing personality structure, aspects of developmental environment should be expected to affect, the degree that individuals should be affected by different environments, and why personality traits are responsive to environmental modulation. Novel research has found evidence that supports an integrative model wherein facultative calibration operates in conjunction with specific genetic polymorphisms and has joint effects in determining personality variation.
The Big Five Personality Traits
Template:Merge section Personality is a source that can tell us important social dilemmas faced by our ancestors. The big five personality traits reveal important social landscapes, and the traits themselves reference particular human qualities that influenced evolutionarily behavior for our ancestors. There are well documented sex differences in personality, attributed to differences in male and female reproductive strategies performed in the ancestral environment. For example, traits for dominance and aggression are seen as more beneficial to the reproductive fitness of men, thereby the selection of these traits in women are lower and more relaxed.
Individual variations of these personality traits are theorized to balance along an ever changing optimum dependant on place and time.
Openness
The trait of openness encompasses an individual’s ability to form creative connections between concepts and is associated with artistic ability. In terms of fitness benefits, research has shown that higher levels of openness and creativity are associated with a higher instances of being perceived attractive by the opposite sex, resulting in a greater ability to attract a mate.
In contrast, high levels of this trait have been associated with some severe psychological disorders, which indicates that extremely creative thinking can be damaging the overall mental health of an individual. In these cases, the ability to attract a mate and the likelihood for reproductive success become significantly lower.
Conscientiousness
Conscientiousness is one ability to think before acting, orderliness, and the ability to delay instant gratification for greater benefits later. It is generally seen as beneficial to have higher amounts of this trait for it promotes long term benefits and a safer livelihood.Yet those who are much higher than the optimum level are at a severe disadvantage when immediate opportunities arise, and often miss the benefits of these spontaneous opportunities.
Extraversion
Extraversion is positively correlated with various mating advantages, including number and quality of sexual partners, thereby increasing an individual’s fitness. Not only is the trait beneficial for sexual reproduction, but it is also associated with higher sociability and social support. (Nettle, 2006) Studies have shown that variation in extraversion also predicts patterns of physical strength and attractiveness, and individual differences in this characteristic is most likely a result of prior reproductive strategies.
In contrast, there are limits to the benefits of extraversion due to risks involved in such behavior. An individual high in extraversion is more likely in their lifetime to be hospitalized, involved in criminal activities, and susceptible to divorce.
Agreeableness
Although it is true that a high level of agreeableness can result in individual success, there are limits to the advantages. An individual exhibiting too much trust and empathy towards others is prone to being taken advantage of, which can endanger their well-being, especially in potentially life threatening situations.
Neuroticism
The negative effects of high neuroticism are fairly well known and include an increase in depression and/or anxiety as well as impaired health in general (due to the overworking of the body’s stress mechanisms). In regards to social livelihood, high amounts of neuroticism are often predictive of loner behavior and relationship failures.
Although it is difficult to determine a functional reason for the normal distribution of neuroticism within the current population, it is hypothesized that in the ancestral environment, a level of neuroticism was critical for threat detection and avoidance of danger. Today, neuroticism is also linked to competitiveness and strive, therefore a certain amount within an individual holds the functional value of aiding in achievement within competitive situations.
Individual Differences and Personality
Personality differences evolved from psychological mechanisms that help guide human behavior in response to the various adaptive problems of our ancestors. These numerous mechanisms are species-typical and domain-specific to solve specific adaptive problems.
Life-history theory describes personality and individual differences as a response to the different trade-offs different individuals make in respect to capturing and allocating energy. Everything an individual does in life, whether it be growing or maintaining its own body, trying to reproduce, or rearing a child, cost valuable energy. Since energy is not limitless, trade-off exists between the adaptive issues we encounter. The energy spent searching new territory and food, cannot be spent on raising a child. This trade-off encompasses personality as well. Extroverts have an increased mating success and develop more social alliances, however, this trait comes with the trade-off of being exposed to high levels of risk.
Costly signaling theory is based on the face that individuals compete for resources and mating partners by sending signals about themselves. Only individuals in the best condition, physically, economically, with high energy can spare the energy it costs to send out these signals.
Fitness optima bases individual differences in personality due to natural selection favoring different levels of personality traits in different environments.
Frequency-dependent selection theory states that two or more strategies exist within a population at certain frequencies relative to one another, such that if one strategy is more prominent and common in the population it decreases your fitness. In other words, natural selection chooses those strategies that are less popular, favoring the alternative strategy. An example of this is biological sex, as the male to female ratio increases, males fitness ultimately decreases. Research shows that personality differences are most prominent in social species, therefore it might be the social environment that provide various adaptive situations which require different personality strategies to succeed.
References
- ^ Michalski, R. L., Shackelford, T.K. (2010). Evolutionary personality psychology: Reconciling human nature and individual differences. Personality and Individual Differences, 48(5), 509-516.Doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2009.10.027
- ^ Figueredo, Aurelio Jose, et al. "16 Evolutionary theories of personality." The Cambridge Handbook of Personality Psychology: 265
- ^ Buss, D.M. (2009). How can evolutionary psychology sucessfully explain personality and individual differences. Association for Psychological Science, 4, 359-366.
- Buss, D. M. (1991). Evolutionary personality psychology. Annual Review of Psychology, 42, 459–491.
- ^ Aaron W. Lukaszewski1 and James R. Roney1. The Origins of Extraversion: Joint Effects of Facultative Calibration and Genetic PolymorphismPers Soc Psychol Bull March 2011 37:409-421.
- Budaev, S. V. (1999). Sex differences in the big five personality factors: Testing an evolutionary hypothesis. Personality and Individual Differences, 26(5), 801-813.
- ^ Nettle, D. (2006). The evolution of personality variation in humans and other animals. American Psychologist, 61(6), 622-631.