Feist−Feist: Theories of
Personality, Seventh
EditionIV. Dispositional Theories 14. Eysenck, McCrae, and
Costa’s Trait and Factor
Theories(^420) © The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2009
Psychoticism
Eysenck’s original theory of personality was based on only two personality dimen-
sions—extraversion and neuroticism. After several years of alluding to psychoticism
(P) as an independent personality factor, Eysenck finally elevated it to a position
equal to E and N (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1976). Like extraversion and neuroticism, P
is a bipolar factor, with psychoticism on one pole and superegoon the other. High P
scorers are often egocentric, cold, nonconforming, impulsive, hostile, aggressive,
suspicious, psychopathic, and antisocial. People low on psychoticism (in the direc-
tion of superego function) tend to be altruistic, highly socialized, empathic, caring,
cooperative, conforming, and conventional (S. Eysenck, 1997).
Earlier, we saw that Eysenck accepted the diathesis-stress model for people
high on the neuroticism scale; that is, stress and high N scores combine to elevate
people’s vulnerability to psychological disorders. This model also suggests that peo-
ple who score high on psychoticism and who are also experiencing levels of stress
have an increased chance of developing a psychotic disorder. Eysenck (1994a) hy-
pothesized that people high on psychoticism have a high “predispositionto succumb
to stress and develop a psychotic illness” (p. 20). This diathesis-stress model suggests
that high P scorers are genetically more vulnerable to stress than are low P scorers.
During periods of little stress, high P scorers may function normally, but when high
psychoticism interacts with high levels of stress, people become vulnerable to psy-
chotic disorders. By contrast, people with low P scores are not necessarily vulnerable
to stress-related psychoses and will resist a psychotic break even in periods of ex-
treme stress. According to Eysenck (1994a, 1994b), the higher the psychoticism
score, the lower the level of stress necessary to precipitate a psychotic reaction.
Psychoticism/superego (P) is independent of both E and N. Figure 14.6
shows each of the three factors at right angles with the other two. (Because three-
414 Part IV Dispositional Theories
Neuroticism
Stability
Extraversion
Superego
Psychoticism
Introversion
F
FIGURE 14.6 Three-dimensional scheme depicting one individual’s scores on each of
Eysenck’s major dimensions of personality.