Extraversion – Intraversion Essay Example

extraversion, the difference is not behavioural but genetic in nature. He believed that the primary difference between extraverts and introverts is due to the level of cortical arousal which is inherited by the individual.

Eysenck's reasoning for this was due to the fact that extraverts have a lower level of cortical arousal in contrast to introverts. (Fiest & Feist, 2006).In order to measure extroversion in individuals, Eysenck in 1959 developed four personality questionnaires. The first of these was the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) which only measured E and N which in turn showed some correlation between the two. As a result of this, Eysenck then went on to develop another test called the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) which had another scale called the Lie (L) scale, which detected faking but measure E and N independently. (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1964, 1968).

As the EPI only measured two factors, Eysenck went on to further develop a third personality test called the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). This third test included the P scale, however, the EPQ was only a revised version on the EPI and due to many criticisms of the P scale, Eysenck developed a revised version of the EPQ. (Feist & Feist, 2006 & Gross, 2005).According to Eysenck (1997), the tests should be able to predict the results of any experimental study and social behaviour. As Eysenck's theory stated, extraversion is due to low cortical arousability and therefore, introverts in contrast to extraverts should be more sensitive to a wider diversity of stimuli and learning conditions. Eysenck went onto argue that personality theories which were efficient should predict immediate and future consequences.

(Feist ; Feist ,

2006).A study conducted by D. Zakay, J. Lomranz and M. Kaziniz (1983) on extraversion-introversion and time perception, Zakay et al stated that there was a negative relationship between extraverts and time perception.

They go on to explain that the rationale for this as extraverts needing constantly high external stimulation due to their inability to work in low external stimulation. Their study was also consistent with Eysenck (1970) and Hogan's (1978) extraversion-introversion model. They went on to conclude that although results were consistent, further experimentation would be required to confirm these findings.