The Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511819384

One of the major neuropsychological models of personality, developed by world-renowned psychologist Professor Jeffrey Gray, is based upon individual differences in reactions to punishing and rewarding stimuli. This biological theory of personality - now widely known as 'Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory' (RST) - has had a major influence on motivation, emotion and psychopathology research. In 2000, RST was substantially revised by Jeffrey Gray, together with Neil McNaughton, and this revised theory proposed three principal motivation/emotion systems: the 'Fight-Flight-Freeze System' (FFFS), the 'Behavioural Approach System' (BAS) and the 'Behavioural Inhibition System' (BIS). This is the first book to summarise the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of personality and bring together leading researchers in the field. It summarizes all of the pre-2000 RST research findings, explains and elaborates the implications of the 2000 theory for personality psychology and lays out the future research agenda for RST.

‘The Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality is rooted in contemporary neurophysiology of learning and emotion. This text presents an outstanding exposition of the development, data, and direction of RST as well as an excellent critical analysis of the strengths and challenges of the research program. It is required reading for serious students and scholars of personality and individual differences.’

Professor Robert M. Stelmack - School of Psychology, University of Ottawa

'… a refreshingly polyphonic account of the field as it stands, where the authors are not afraid to question the orthodoxy. … exhaustive and exhilarating …'

Source: Journal of ISSID

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-vi
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List of abbreviations
pp vii-viii
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List of figures
pp ix-xii
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List of tables
pp xiii-xiv
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List of contributors
pp xv-xvi
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Preface
pp xvii-xviii
- By Philip J. Corr, Professor, University of Wales Swansea
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1 - Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST): introduction
pp 1-43
- By Philip J. Corr, Professor, University of Wales Swansea
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2 - The neuropsychology of fear and anxiety: a foundation for Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory
pp 44-94
- By Neil McNaughton, Professor, University of Otago, Philip J. Corr, Professor, University of Wales Swansea
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3 - Animal cognition and human personality
pp 95-119
- By Neil McNaughton, Professor, University of Otago, Philip J. Corr, Professor, University of Wales Swansea
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4 - The behavioural activation system: challenges and opportunities
pp 120-154
- By Alan D. Pickering, Department of Psychology, University of London, Luke D. Smillie, Department of Psychology, University of London
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5 - Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and personality
pp 155-187
- By Philip J. Corr, Department of Psychology, University of Wales Swansea, United Kingdom, Neil McNaughton, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Research Centre, University of Otago, New Zealand
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6 - Reinforcement sensitivity scales
pp 188-227
- By Rafael Torrubia, Professor, Department of Psychological Medicine University of Barcelona, Spain, César Ávila, Professor, Department of Psychology University of Jaume, Spain, Xavier Caseras, Professor, Department of Psychological medicine University of Brcelona, Spain
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7 - Performance and conditioning studies
pp 228-260
- By César Ávila, Professor, Department of Psychology University of Jaume, Spain, Rafael Torrubia, Professor, Department of Psychologyal Medicine University of Barcelona, Spain
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8 - Psychophysiological studies
pp 261-290
- By Vilfredo De Pascalis, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Rome, Italy
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9 - Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and mood induction studies
pp 291-316
- By Rapson Gomez, Professor, Department of Psychology University of Ballarat, Australia, Andrew Cooper, Department of Psychology, University of Wales Swansea, UK
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10 - Neuro-imaging and genetics
pp 317-344
- By Martin Reuter, Professor, Department of Psychology University of Bonn Germany
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11 - Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and psychosomatic medicine
pp 345-359
- By Liisa Keltikangas-Järvinen, Professor, Department of Psychology University of Helsinki, Finland
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12 - RST and clinical disorders: anxiety and depression
pp 360-397
- By Richard E. Zinbarg, Professor, Department of Psychology Northwestern University, USA, K. Lira Yoon, Department of Psychology Northwestern University, USA
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13 - RST and psychopathy: associations between psychopathy and the behavioral activation and inhibition systems
pp 398-414
- By John F. Wallace, Professor, Department of Psychology University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, Joseph P. Newman, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
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14 - Behavioural activation and inhibition in social adjustment
pp 415-430
- By Gennady G. Knyazev, Dr, State Research Institute of Physiology Russia, Glenn D. Wilson, Dr, Department of Psychologys University of London, United Kingdom, Helena R. Slobodskaya, Dr, State Research Institute of Physiology Russia
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15 - Reinforcement sensitivity in the workplace: BIS/BAS in business
pp 431-452
- By Adrian Furnham, Professor, Department of Psychology University of London, UK, Chris Jackson, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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16 - Formal and computational models of Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory
pp 453-481
- By Alan D. Pickering, Professor, Department of Psychology University of London, UK
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17 - Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory: a critique from cognitive science
pp 482-507
- By Gerald Matthews, Professor, Department of Psychology University of Cincinnati, USA
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18 - The contribution of Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory to personality theory
pp 508-527
- By William Revelle, Professor, Department of Psychology Northwestern University, USA
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General Index
pp 528-533
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Index of Names
pp 534-537
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