The role of theory in the psychophysiology of personality: from Ivan Pavlov to Jeffrey Gray

International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
Philip J Corr, Adam M Perkins

Abstract

Psychophysiological approaches to personality have made significant progress in recent years, partly as a spin-off of technological innovation (e.g., functional neuroimaging) and partly as a result of an emerging theoretical consensus regarding the structure and biology of basic processes. In this field, Jeffrey Gray's influential psychophysiological theory of personality - now widely known as Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) - owes much to Pavlov, who devoted a large proportion of his later life to personality differences and their implications for psychiatry. In this article, we trace the influence of Pavlov on Hans Eysenck's and Jeffrey Gray's work, and then provide a brief description of RST in order to highlight some of the central problems - as well as some tentative solutions - in the psychophysiology of personality. Specifically, the importance of theory in personality research is stressed by the contrast of Gray's theoretically driven model with less fertile atheoretical (i.e., exploratory-inductive) approaches. The fecundity of RST, which has been in continual development over a period of thirty years, is discussed in the light of Karl Popper's views on the nature of science, especially the formulation of the 'p...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1989·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·R J Blanchard, D C Blanchard
Aug 1, 1970·Behaviour Research and Therapy·J A Gray
Feb 1, 1967·Psychological Reports·S B Eysenck, H J Eysenck
Mar 21, 2001·Behavioral Neuroscience·T CanliJ D Gabrieli
Jun 22, 2002·Science·Turhan CanliJohn D E Gabrieli
Dec 1, 1954·Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology·J OLDS, P MILNER
Jul 1, 1955·Psychological Review·D O HEBB
Jul 1, 2004·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Neil McNaughton, Philip J Corr
Jul 1, 2004·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Philip J Corr
Feb 16, 2005·The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology·Ghanshyam N Pandey, Yogesh Dwivedi
Jan 1, 1943·Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry·E Slater

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 12, 2010·Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology·Adrian P MundtAndreas Ströhle
May 26, 2009·International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·Constantine A Mangina
May 4, 2016·Psychiatry Research·Bonnie AlbrechtDavid Best
Oct 16, 2016·Development and Psychopathology·Neil McNaughton, Philip J Corr
Jul 19, 2020·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Christian MontagSebastian Markett

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Amygdala and Midbrain Dopamine

The midbrain dopamine system is widely studied for its involvement in emotional and motivational behavior. Some of these neurons receive information from the amygdala and project throughout the cortex. When the circuit and transmission of dopamine is disrupted symptoms may present. Here is the latest research on the amygdala and midbrain dopamine.

Amygdala: Sensory Processes

Amygdalae, nuclei clusters located in the temporal lobe of the brain, play a role in memory, emotional responses, and decision-making. Here is the latest research on sensory processes in the amygdala.

Related Papers

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
S L GableA J Elliot
International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
S W Porges
International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
Minna HuotilainenJyri Hukki
International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
N P BechterevaS V Medvedev
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved