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Eysenck's Theory of Personality

🧠 Psychology By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated
Quick answer: Eysenck described personality with three biologically based dimensions - extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism.
Contents
  1. 1. Hierarchical structure
  2. 2. Three dimensions (PEN)
  3. 3. Measurement and evaluation
  4. 4. References

Hierarchical structure

Using factor analysis, Eysenck arranged personality in four levels: specific responses, habitual responses, traits such as sociability, and at the top types or dimensions.

Three dimensions (PEN)

  • Extraversion-introversion: extraverts are sociable and active, introverts quiet and careful. Eysenck proposed that introverts have higher baseline cortical arousal and so seek less stimulation.
  • Neuroticism: emotional instability and worry, linked to limbic reactivity.
  • Psychoticism: aggressiveness, impulsivity and coldness, added in the 1970s.

Measurement and evaluation

The EPI and EPQ measure the dimensions and include a lie scale. Extraversion and neuroticism map closely onto the Big Five and are well supported, while psychoticism is criticised as vague and weakly tied to actual psychosis.

References

  1. Eysenck, H. J. (1967). The Biological Basis of Personality. Charles C Thomas.
  2. Eysenck, H. J., & Eysenck, S. B. G. (1975). Manual of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Hodder & Stoughton.
  3. Eysenck, H. J. (1990). Biological dimensions of personality. In L. A. Pervin (Ed.), Handbook of Personality (pp. 244-276). Guilford.

Reports and materials that use this theory (Korean)

There are no materials dedicated to this theory yet, but you can search related reports in the CampusDown library (Korean).

Find more reports · Search '아이젠크의 성격이론' on CampusDown →
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This article was last updated on October 15, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.