Biological Theory of Personality

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      Specifically, why is your personality the way it is? There are many probable answers, but if you ask a biological psychologist, they would say that you behave the way you do because of your genes.

      Definition of the Biological Theories of Personality

      The argument of nature vs. nurture seems as old as time. Do our personalities come from genetic coding, or are they the result of the influence of the people around us? While many can argue that it’s a combination of both nature and nurture, others focus more on the nature side of personality. Biological theories of personality are a group of theories that argue for the nature (or biological) side of this ongoing debate.

      Nature vs. nurture: An ongoing debate where one side argues that we are born a specific way (nature), while the other side argues that we are influenced to become who we are (nurture).

      Your little brother is super annoying. You think it's most likely due to how your parents have raised him, but sometimes you wonder if it's just part of his genetic coding. It could be both! If you decide that it's due to his upbringing, you're siding with the nurture side of the debate. If you decide that it's due to genetics or biological factors, you're siding with the nature side of the debate.

      When looking through the biological lens when it comes to personality, just remember that we are trying to view the person as they are. Biological theories of personality do not look at external factors (e.g., the influence of others around them), but rather at internal factors (e.g., genetics) to explain why our personalities are the way they are.

      These theories try to observe how someone became who they are through genetics, neuroscience, DNA, and other internal factors.

      Biological Theories of Personality Development

      There are several different ways that our biology can impact our personality throughout our lives. It's about much more than just our genetics! Hormones, traumatic events, neurotransmitters, and other factors can impact and alter our personalities. Some of the biological bases of personality include:

      • Genetic Factors/DNA

        Anxiety disorders or tendencies towards anxiety can be passed down in a family. There is no specific gene for anxiety. Several different genes seem to play a role in anxious dispositions.

      • Brain Structures

        An ongoing study that is being done on Cattell’s "Big 5" personality traits model shows that people who measure higher in conscientiousness tend to have larger lateral prefrontal cortexes than those who are low in conscientiousness. The lateral prefrontal cortex is a brain structure that plays a role in our organization and behavior.

      • Hormone Secretions

        The hormone testosterone (present in males and females but more so in males) is vital for its impact on our sociability, aggression, and sexuality.

      Biology can shape our personalities as we age and progress through the different phases of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Biological theories of personality development want to look at the consistent and inconsistent aspects of our personalities over time as they relate to biological causes or factors.

      It would seem that our personalities tend to remain consistent, despite environmental influences. This is an argument in favor of nature over nurture (or biological causes over environmental ones). If a baby is quiet and prefers to play by itself, they will develop into an adult that also prefers quiet and alone time.

      Biological Theories of Personality in Psychology

      There are many biological theories for personality, but for this article, we will look at the following psychologists and their theories: Jeffrey Gray’s Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, and Hans Eysenck's Three-Factor Model of Personality (PEN model).

      Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory

      Jeffrey Gray’s Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory is based on the notion that we use three types of biologically-driven responses when faced with stress or fear. It posits that everyone has a specific response method when faced with certain stimuli. These individual reactions can underlie personality traits for anxiety and impulsivity.

      The three responses that people use when faced with stress or fear are called the fight, flight, or freeze response. This process explains that the person will either fight (face the stimuli head-on), fly (run away from the stimuli), or freeze (not react to stimuli) in stressful or fear-inducing situations. How one instinctively reacts can correspond with personality traits linked to anxiety, overthinking, impulsivity, and worrying.

      Mark, Andrew, and Greyson are currently on a hike in the Appalachian mountains. They see signs warning of bear dens nearby. They overlook the signs because it is winter time and they know that it is hibernation season. As they continue to walk, they suddenly hear loud rustling in the bushes nearby. A large bear pops out scaring the three boys. Mark runs away screaming, while Jake is frozen in fear, and Greyson is trying to get his pepper spray out. Based on their reactions, Mark chose flight, Jake chose freeze, and Greyson chose to fight.

      In North America, there are around 11 brown bear attacks reported annually, with most surviving the encounter. National parks that have bear residents suggest that the best way to survive an attack is to stay calm and collected. You do not want to run away screaming, as this can cause the bear to attack. If you do encounter one, you should back away slowly with your arms raised. If the bear does charge, lay down in a fetal position and cover your head with your arms. Bear spray does work, but it is not 100 percent effective.

      How would you react?

      Jeffrey Gray also introduced two behavioral systems that coincided with neurobiological processes.

      Gray's Behavioral Inhibition System

      Gray theorized that our responses to situations we associate with negativity can be predicted, because our brain recalls previous reactions to the same event or environment. The behavioral inhibition system is a neurobiological system that can predict our response to specific stimuli, because of earlier experiences that we viewed as negative.

      Angelica discovered that she was highly allergic to shellfish after trying it for the first time. Now, whenever she sees shellfish, she gets anxious, as she recalls her trip to Urgent Care for treatment.

      This behavioral system is associated with personality traits that involve carefulness, trust, anxiety, and emotionality.

      Gray's Behavioral Activation System

      In contrast, Gray's behavioral activation system suggests that our brain/body is predisposed to pursuing and achieving goals due to our mind's positive association. The behavioral activation system is a neurobiological system that promotes motivation and encourages the pursuit of goals based on experiences that we view as positive.

      Sammy creates a goal for each month through the year. This started as a way for her to deal with procrastinating, but over time, it became a habit. She enjoyed the feeling of completing her monthly goal, which motivates her to continue setting goals every month.

      This behavioral system is associated with personality traits that involve self-consciousness, self-discipline, and dutifulness.

      Hans Eysenck's Biological Theory of Personality

      Hans Eysenck was a German psychologist known for his PEN model. It is one of the major biological theories of personality. The PEN model is based on three personality traits that Eysenck believed correlated with the activation of our limbic system and reticular formation. Both are structures of the brain and they each play a key role in brain and body function. The limbic system focuses on emotion, behavior, and memory, while the reticular formation focuses on arousal and consciousness.

      The Limbic System: Located in the brain, it is involved with responses that shape our behavior and emotion. It specifically controls behaviors that the brain views as vital to survival such as eating, and responses to danger (think back to Gray's Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response).

      The Reticular Formation: Located in the brain, it is a complex group of neurons that help with functions related to consciousness and arousal.

      The three personality traits for the PEN model are Psychoticism, Extraversion, and Neuroticism. Eysenck referred to these three traits as super-traits.

      When referring to Eysenck’s PEN model, please keep in mind that it includes a range of possible scores for each trait. Whether one scores high or low for that specific personality, it is not a 100 percent accurate portrayal of that person.

      Psychoticism and Normality

      The P in PEN stands for Psychoticism. If someone scores high in psychoticism, their personality would reflect someone more likely to ignore social norms, as they are not motivated by incentives. People in this category are also more likely to disregard authority and rules set by others. However, Eysenck also noted that people in this category are very creative and like to think outside the box.

      If someone scores low in psychoticism, their personality would reflect someone who is sensitive, empathetic, and more likely to follow the rules set by others. People who score low in psychoticism are also more likely to avoid conflict as they prefer peaceful environments.

      Personality traits linked to Psychoticism (High):

      • Aggressive

      • Cold

      • Impersonal

      Please keep in mind that if someone scores high in psychoticism, this does not mean they are psychotic. Having personality traits linked to psychoticism is not the same as experiencing psychosis or other symptoms typical of a psychotic disorder. The term "psychotic" means something different here!

      Extraversion and Introversion

      The E in PEN stands for Extraversion. If someone scores high in extroversion, they have a personality that is more sociable and outgoing. Extroverts enjoy environments where they can be social and have attention. If someone scores low in this category, they have a quieter personality that prefers an environment with smaller crowds and activities that they can do alone. (This does not mean they are lonely or reclusive, however.)

      Personality traits linked to Extroversion (High)

      • Carefree

      • Sociable

      • Lively

      Neuroticism and Stability

      In Eysenck’s PEN model, N stands for Neuroticism. If someone scores high in neuroticism, they have a personality that is oriented towards the self and are more likely to experience stress and anxiety. A low score would indicate they have a calm personality and are more laid back. They will also be better at handling stress and anxiety.

      Personality traits linked to Neuroticism (High)

      • Tense

      • Anxious

      • Moody

      Biological Theory of Personality - Key takeaways

      • Biological theories of personality try to answer how or why our personalities are created via biological means. These theories also try to discover the relationship between personality development, our DNA, and our mental processes.

      • These theories follow how these biological bases shape our personalities as we age and progress through the different phases of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

      • Biological theories of personality development want to look at the consistencies and changes in personality over time, as it relates to biological means.

      • The PEN model is based on three personality traits that Eysenck believed correlated with the activation of our limbic system and reticular formation.

      • The three personality traits for the PEN model are Psychoticism, Extraversion, and Neuroticism; Eysenck referred to these three traits as super-traits.

      Frequently Asked Questions about Biological Theory of Personality

      What are biological theories of personality? 

      Biological theories of personality do not look at external factors (e.g. the influence of others), but rather at internal factors (e.g. genetics), to explain why personalities are the way they are.

      How does biology affect personality? 

      Our biological components can affect our personality through genetics and mental processes. 

      What are the different theories of personality? 

      There are many theories of personality, but we will break them down into the following subsets: 

      • Biological theories of personality 
      • Cognitive theories of personality 
      • Psychodynamic theories of personality 
      • Trait theories of personality 
      • Social-cognitive theories of personality 
      • Behavioral theories of personality 
      • Humanistic theories of personality 

      What are biological factors of personality? 

      Biological factors of personality can include the following: 

      • Genetics 
      • DNA 
      • Mental processes 
      • Hormonal secretions 

      What is an example of a biological theory? 

      An example of a biological theory is Hans Eysenck's Three-Factor Model of Personality (PEN Model). 


      The PEN model is based on three personality traits that Eysenck believed correlated with the activation of our limbic system, and reticular formation.

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      Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

      Which psychologist created the PEN model? 

      Who postulated the "Fight, Flight, or Freeze" response? 

      Alex is very outgoing and enjoys meeting new people. If Alex took a P.E.N assessment, in which area would he score high based on the description given above? 

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