Personality and Exercise Lecture PDF

Personality and Exercise Dr. Jeremy Walsh KINESIOL 3H03 Asynchronous Lecture #7 mcmaster.ca  Lecture Outline and Objectives Understand what personality is and what it isn’t Know foundational biological theories of pe...

Personality and Exercise Dr. Jeremy Walsh KINESIOL 3H03 Asynchronous Lecture #7 mcmaster.ca  Lecture Outline and Objectives Understand what personality is and what it isn’t Know foundational biological theories of personality Connect personality domains with neurobiology Understand contemporary theories of personality We will look at exercise and personality during synchronous lecture Personality Defined Underlying, relatively stable, psychological structures and processes that organize human experience and shape a person’s actions and reactions Loading… to the environment. An individual’s unique, but consistent, psychological make-up  Structure of Personality In D te y 1) Personality core rn n al Role-related a 2) Typical responses to situations behaviours m ic 3) Role-related behaviours Typical responses E xt er C n Personality core o al n st a nt Hollander, 1967  Approaches to the Study of Personality Learning/Situational Approaches More emphasis on environment Includes: conditioning/behaviourist or social learning theories Loading… Dispositional/Trait Theories Emphasis on the individual Includes: biological and trait theories Approaches to the Study of Personality Both approaches endorse an interactionist perspective *Both the individual and their environment are important in determining behavior Biological Theories of Personality Ancient Greek Theory of Humors Balance of bodily fluids = personality Blood = “sanguine”: cheerful, optimistic Yellow Bile = “choleric”: irritable Black Bile = “melancholic”: sad, depressed Phlegm = apathetic, indifferent Body : Mind Constitutional Theory (Sheldon, 1942) Individuals possess certain somatotypes (body types) Trait Theories of Personality Traits vs. States Traits: Relatively enduring dispositions that exert a consistent influence on behavior in a variety of situations Loading… States: The psychological reaction to the situation in which the individual finds him/herself COPYRIGHT © HOLCOMB HATHAWAY, PUBLISHERS  Trait Theories Emanate from inside the person (not the situation) Personality consists of specific traits (e.g., moody, anxious, restless, rigid) and more general traits (e.g., neuroticism) Theories differ as to the number of general traits they propose Theories that we will discuss: 1. Eysenck’s personality theory 2. Five factor model Dimensions of Eysenck’s Theory  Eysneck’s Theory Personality has a Biological Basis Introversion-Extraversion (E) Cortical arousal systems Modulated at the reticular-activating system Stability-Neuroticism (N) Reflects limbic system (regulates emotion) and autonomic nervous system (fight or flight) Supergo-Psychoticism (P) Hormonally driven by high Testosterone and lower serotonin  Dimensions of Eysenck’s Personality Theory Extraversion-Introversion Outgoing, sociable, optimistic, etc Reserved, unsociable, quiet, etc Driven by level of cortical arousal in cortex of brain Reticular formation mediates cortical arousal Introverts—higher base level activation, avoid further stimulation, low pain tolerance Extroverts—lower base level activation, seek further stimulation, high pain tolerance  Dimensions of Eysenck’s Personality Theory Extraversion-Introversion Neuroticism-Stability Psychoticism-Superego Outgoing, sociable, optimistic, etc Tense, anxious, moody, etc Impulsive, aggressive, hostile etc. Reserved, unsociable, quiet, etc Calm, even-tempered, etc. Empathetic, cooperative, altruistic Driven by level of cortical arousal in Driven by limbic system and Driven by hormonal function cortex of brain autonomic nervous system Reticular formation mediates cortical ANS drives fight or flight response Increased androgen (testosterone) and arousal relative absence of serotonin Introverts—higher base level High N—more labile, longer-lasting Lead to heightened aggressiveness, activation, avoid further stimulation, ANS reactions impersonal attitudes, and antisocial low pain tolerance Continues to process stressor even behaviour when it is no longer present Extroverts—lower base level Very little attention in exercise activation, seek further stimulation, domain; https://youtu.be/PZxX3-rJoNI can be advantageous in high pain tolerance certain sport situations  Dimensions of Eysenck’s Personality Theory Extraversion-Introversion Neuroticism-Stability Psychoticism-Superego Outgoing, sociable, optimistic, etc Tense, anxious, moody, etc Impulsive, aggressive, hostile etc. Reserved, unsociable, quiet, etc Calm, even-tempered, etc. Empathetic, cooperative, altruistic Driven by level of cortical arousal in Driven by limbic system and Driven by hormonal function cortex of brain autonomic nervous system Reticular formation mediates cortical ANS drives fight or flight response Increased androgen (testosterone) and arousal relative absence of serotonin Introverts—higher base level High N—more labile, longer-lasting Lead to heightened aggressiveness, activation, avoid further stimulation, ANS reactions impersonal attitudes, and antisocial low pain tolerance continues to process stressor even behaviour when it is no longer present Extroverts—lower base level Very little attention in exercise activation, seek further stimulation, domain; can be advantageous in high pain tolerance certain sport situations The Five-Factor Model COPYRIGHT © HOLCOMB HATHAWAY, PUBLISHERS Other Personality Factors Other Personality Factors in Exercise Research Gender-role orientations: Instrumental (M) = risk-taking, independence, competitiveness, aggressiveness Expressive (F) = affection, compassion, understanding, sympathy Relevance for exercise: Feminine (expressive) individuals avoid masculine (instrumental) activities when given a choice COPYRIGHT © HOLCOMB HATHAWAY, PUBLISHERS Other Personality Factors in Exercise Research Type A behaviour pattern (TAPB) Hostility/anger, competitiveness, achievement striving, impatient, aggressive, etc. “Coronary-Prone Personality” Type A and B Behaviour Patterns and Exercise  Other Personality Factors in Exercise Research Hardiness proposed to be stress-buffering/protects against deleterious effects of stress; comprised of: a sense of control over events commitment, dedication or involvement in everyday life a tendency to perceive life events as challenges and opportunities, rather than as stressors Relevance for exercise: Hardiness is related to a tendency to engage in more healthful behaviors (e.g., exercise), but research is correlational COPYRIGHT © HOLCOMB HATHAWAY, PUBLISHERS