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Dimensions of Personality

The Biosocial Approach to Personality

  • Chapter
Explorations in Temperament

Part of the book series: Perspectives on Individual Differences ((PIDF))

Abstract

It would seem difficult to doubt the truth of the proposition that man is a biosocial animal (Eysenck, 1980b). There is no longer any doubt about the strong determination of individual differences in personality by genetic factors (Eaves, Eysenck, & Martin, 1989), and much progress has been made in the study of physiological, neurological, and biochemical-hormonal factors in mediating this influence (Eysenck, 1981; Zucker-man, Ballenger, & Post, 1984; Stelmack, 1981). It has been suggested that the biological aspects of personality should be identified with the concept of temperament (Strelau, 1983) and this may prove an acceptable use, although the dictionary defines the term as equivalent to personality (“the characteristic way an individual behaves, especially towards other people”). What is not in doubt is the importance of considering individual differences as an important part of scientific psychology (Eysenck, 1984) and, indeed, it has been fundamental for any proper understanding of human behavior (Eysenck, 1983). Personality is more than superficial behavioral characteristics, easily acquired and easily abandoned; it is an indispensable part of any meaningful scientific investigation in educational, industrial, clinical, social or experimental psychology (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1985).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Hans J. Eysenck

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  1. Hans J. Eysenck
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

    Jan Strelau

  2. University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany

    Alois Angleitner

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Eysenck, H.J. (1991). Dimensions of Personality. In: Strelau, J., Angleitner, A. (eds) Explorations in Temperament. Perspectives on Individual Differences. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0643-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0643-4_7

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