Hierarchical Models of Personality

According to Hans Eysenck's model, personality is organized hierarchically. Eysenck theorized that at the broadest level of the hierarchy, an individual's personality can be described in terms of "types." Eysenck primarily focused on three type variables: extraversion/introversion, neuroticism/stability, and psychoticism.

Hierarchical Models of Personality

According to Hans Eysenck's model, personality is organized hierarchically. Eysenck theorized that at the broadest level of the hierarchy, an individual's personality can be described in terms of "types." Eysenck primarily focused on three type variables: extraversion/introversion, neuroticism/stability, and psychoticism. The next level, according to Eysenck, was the trait level, followed by the habitual response and specific response levels of the hierarchy. Eysenck explained that a cluster of specific responses constitute a habitual response; a cluster of habitual responses constitute a trait; and a cluster of traits constitute a type.

A hierarchical model such as Eysenck's suggests strong relationships between one level of the hierarchy and the next: specific behaviors derive from habits, which derive from traits, which derive from types. Thus, taken together, the theory suggests that any specific behavior that an individual performs can ultimately be traced back to the individual's personality type. Such a conceptualization grants significant power to the type variables within an individual's personality in terms of determining the specific behaviors in which that individual will engage.

To what extent do you agree with Eysenck's implication that specific behaviors can be attributed to the broad "type" level of the personality hierarchy? Consider some of the specific behaviors you have performed recently. Make sure that you are not focusing on broader aspects, such as habits (clusters of related behaviors) or traits. Instead, select isolated actions that you have taken in recent days. Behaviors to consider may include:

• A recent purchase you made
• What you did last Saturday night
• What you did last Tuesday morning
• Clothes you recently chose to wear
• A voicemail message you recently left
• Food you recently chose to eat
• Recent study behaviors

How well does Eysenck's hierarchical model apply to this behavior? In other words, to what extent can the specific behavior you have chosen be categorized under a heading of a habit, trait, or type within your personality? When you consider the type level, do your labels match those upon which Eysenck focused (extraversion/introversion, neuroticism/stability, and psychoticism)? If your behavior cannot be fully attributed to the higher levels in your personality hierarchy, to what can they be attributed?

Andrew M. Pomerantz, Ph. D.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. To what extent can an individual's specific behaviors be traced back to the habits, personality traits, or personality type of the individual?
2. If there are instances when specific behaviors are not determined by habits, traits, or types, what other factors determine them?
3. According to hierarchical theories of personality such as Eysenck's, an item on one level stems from a single item in a higher level. For example, a habit stems from a single trait. In your opinion, is it possible that multiple items within one level of the hierarchy interact to produce an item at the lower level? Can you provide an example?

Web Links:
http://freespace.virgin.net/darrin.evans/
The official homepage of H. J. Eysenck.

http://similarminds.com/eysenck.html
An online version of the Eysenck Personality Test.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=JournalURL&_cdi=5897&_auth=y&_acct=C000053129&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1490870=ad082d05657fedde296d8a89fbcd6bf1
Website of the journal "Personality and Individual Differences," which Eysenck founded in 1980. Many of the early articles were authored or co-authored by Eysenck, and abstracts can be accessed.