Psychoticism is one of the three
traits used by the psychologist
Hans Eysenck in his P–E–N model (
psychoticism,
extraversion and
neuroticism) model of
personality
Personality is the characteristic sets of behaviors, cognitions, and emotional patterns that are formed from biological and environmental factors, and which change over time. While there is no generally agreed-upon definition of personality, m ...
.
Nature
Psychoticism is conceptually similar to the ''constraint'' factor in Tellegen's three-factor model of personality.
[ Psychoticism may be divided into narrower traits such as impulsivity and sensation-seeking. These may in turn be further subdivided into even more specific traits. For example, impulsivity may be divided into narrow impulsivity (unthinking responsivity), risk taking, non-planning, and liveliness.][ Sensation seeking has also been analysed into a number of separate facets.
Eysenck argued that there might be a correlation between psychoticism and ]creativity
Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a printed Literature ...
.[Eysenck, Hans J. (1993). Creativity and Personality: Suggestions for a Theory. ''Psychological Inquiry''. 4(3), 147–178.]
Critics
Critics of the trait have suggested that the trait is too heterogeneous to be taken as a single trait. Costa and McCrae believe that agreeableness
Agreeableness is a personality trait manifesting itself in individual behavioral characteristics that are perceived as kind, sympathetic, cooperative, warm, and considerate. In contemporary personality psychology, agreeableness is one of the fiv ...
and conscientiousness
Conscientiousness is the personality trait of being careful, or diligent. Conscientiousness implies a desire to do a task well, and to take obligations to others seriously. Conscientious people tend to be efficient and organized as opposed to ...
(both of which represent low levels of psychoticism) need to be distinguished in personality models. It has also been suggested that "psychoticism" may be a misnomer and that "psychopathy
Psychopathy, sometimes considered synonymous with sociopathy, is characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. Different conceptions of psychopathy have bee ...
" or "Impulsive Unsocialized Sensation Seeking" would be better labels.
Biological bases
Psychoticism is believed to be associated with levels of dopamine.[Lester, D.(1989) Neurotransmitter bases for Eysenck's theory of personality. ''Psychological Reports'', 64, (1) 189–190] Other biological correlates of psychoticism include low conditionability and low levels of monoamine oxidase; beta-hydroxylase, cortisol, norepinephrine
Norepinephrine (NE), also called noradrenaline (NA) or noradrenalin, is an organic chemical in the catecholamine family that functions in the brain and body as both a hormone and neurotransmitter. The name "noradrenaline" (from Latin '' ad' ...
in cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, colorless body fluid found within the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord of all vertebrates.
CSF is produced by specialised ependymal cells in the choroid plexus of the ventricles of the ...
also appear relevant to psychoticism level.
Eysenck's theoretical basis for the model was the theory of '' Einheitspsychosen (unitary psychosis)'' of the nineteenth-century German psychiatrist Heinrich Neumann Heinrich may refer to:
People
* Heinrich (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
* Heinrich (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name)
*Hetty (given name), a given name (including a list of peo ...
.
See also
* Big Five personality traits
The Big Five personality traits is a suggested taxonomy, or grouping, for personality traits, developed from the 1980s onward in psychological trait theory.
Starting in the 1990s, the theory identified five factors by labels, for the US English ...
* Extraversion
* Neuroticism
* Schizotypy
In psychology, schizotypy is a theoretical concept that posits a continuum of personality characteristics and experiences, ranging from normal dissociative, imaginative states to extreme states of mind related to psychosis, especially schizophreni ...
References
{{Reflist
More information
* Eysenck, H.J. & Eysenck, S.B.G. (1976). ''Psychoticism as a Dimension of Personality.'' London: Hodder and Stoughton
Personality traits