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Reinforcement sensitivity theory

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1 Behavio ral Activatio n and Inhibitio n Systems

2 Origins o f RST
3 Relatio nship between RST and Eysenck's facto r space
4 Revisal o f the theo ry (20 0 0 )
5 Critiques
6 See also
7 External links
8 References

Behavioral Activation and Inhibition Systems

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The reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) is a biopsychological theory of personality first proposed by Jeffrey Alan Gray in 1970 and
based on brain function research with animals.[1]

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Gray's model of personality was based on hypothesiz ed brain systems:

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The Behavioral Act ivat ion Syst em (BAS)

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BAS consists of the cortico- striato- pallido- thalamic loops and pathways sensitive to catecholaminergic action, [2] it is responsive to
conditioned and unconditioned cues of rewards, and it regulates approach behavior.[1] People with more active BAS are vulnerable to
positive emotions and tend to be more impulsive - they have a difficulty in inhibiting their behavior when approaching a goal.[3]

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The Behavioral Inhibit ion Syst em (BIS)

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BIS is built of the septohippocampal system, its monoaminergic afferents from the brain stem, and its neocortical projection in the
frontal lobe. BIS is considered to be responsive to cues of punishment, novelty, uncertainty, and non- rewarding stimuli. Therefore,
people with more active BIS are vulnerable to unpleasant emotions, such as: frustration, anxiety, fear, or sadness.[3][1]

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According to Gray, personality traits are result of individual differences in the strengths of BIS and BAS systems. [4]
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RST is a continuously evolving paradigm and is the subject of multiple areas of contemporary psychological enquiry. [5] The theory has
developed since its inception, incorporating findings from a number of areas in psychology and neuroscience, culminating in a major
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revisal of the theory in 2000.[6] The neural pathways underpinning each system are now well elucidated.

Origins of RST

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T his se ct io n is e mp t y. Yo u ca n
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Relationship between RST and Eysenck's factor space

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Hans Eysenck's two original personality factors, Neuroticism and Extroversion, were derived from the same lexical paradigm used by
other researchers (e.g. Gordon Allport , James Cattell) to delineate the structure of personality. Eyesenck's major contribution was to
propose a biological explanation for individual differences in these dimensions: Extraversion as a function of cortical arousability (via the
ascending reticular activating system), and Neuroticism as a function of the limbic system. Gray's theory, however, posited three brain
systems whose function is (ultimately) to move an organism towards sources of reward, and differences in sensitivity to
punishing/rewarding stimuli are the source of individual differences in personality. While on the face of it, there seems to be little to
reconcile between the two theories, Gray himself did not discount the possibility of cortical arousal playing some part. For example, he
proposed that punishing stimuli might tend to be more arousing, and thus explain the higher levels of arousal seen in introverts. In other
words, introverts, being more punishment- sensitive in general, would show overall higher cortical arousal.[citation needed]
The relationship between BIS and BAS and Extraversion/Introversion is extremely complex. However, in terms of factor space, it is
accepted that BAS is rotated 30 anticlockwise from Extraversion, and BIS is rotated 30 anticlockwise from Neuroticism.[7] BIS activation
tends to be described as anxiety, and BAS activation as Extroversion, but there is considerable debate as to what the cardinal BIS and
BAS- related traits are.[8]

Revisal of the theory (2000)

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T his se ct io n is e mp t y. Yo u ca n
h e l p b y a d d i n g to i t.

Critiques

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T his se ct io n is e mp t y. Yo u ca n
h e l p b y a d d i n g to i t.

See also

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Personality psychology
Trait theory
Extraversion and introversion

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External links
The BIS/BAS Scale

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The BIS/BAS scale with scoring instructions

References

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1. ^ a b c Larsen, R. J., & Buss, D. M. (20 0 9 ). Personality Psychology: Domains of Knowledge about Human Nature. New Yo rk, NY: McGraw-Hill.
2. ^ De Pascalis, V., Fio re, A., Sparita, A. (19 9 6 ). Perso nality, event-related po tential (ERP) and heart rate (HR): An investigatio n o f Gray's theo ry.
Personality and Individual Differences, 20 , 733-746 . do i:10 .10 16 /0 19 1-8 8 6 9 (9 6 )0 0 0 16 -5
3. ^ a b Gray, J. A. (19 9 1). The neuro physio lo gy o f temperament. In J. Strelau & A. Angleitner (Eds.), Explorations in temperament: International
perspectives on theory and measurement (pp. 10 5-128 ). New Yo rk, NY: Plenum.
4. ^ Zelenski, J. M., & Larsen, J. R. (19 9 9 ). Susceptibility to affect: A co mpariso n o f three perso nality taxo no mies. Journal of Personality, 67 , 76 179 1.
5. ^ Co rr, P.J., The Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality
9 78 0 5216 1736 9

, April 20 0 8 , (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), ISBN

6 . ^ Gray, J.A. and McNaughto n, N., The Neuro psycho lo gy o f Anxiety: An Enquiry into the Functio ns o f the Septo -Hippo campal System
20 0 3, (Oxfo rd: Oxfo rd University Press), ISBN13 9 78 -0 -19 -8 52271-3 and ISBN10 0 -19 -8 52271-1

, July

7. ^ Matthews, G., & Gilliland, K. (19 9 9 ). The perso nality theo ries o f H. J. Eysenck and J. A. Gray: A co mparative view. Personality and Individual
Differences, 26, 58 3-6 26 . do i:10 .10 16 /S0 19 1-8 8 6 9 (9 9 )0 0 16 6 -X
8 . ^ Go mez, R., Co o per, A., & Go mez, A. (20 0 0 ). Susceptibility to po sitive and negative mo o d states: A test o f Eysenck's, Ray's, and Newman's
theo ries. Personality and Individual Differences, 29 , 351-36 5.

Categories: Psychological theories

This page was last modified on 23 March 2012 at 04:59.

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