Human reactions to reward and punishment: a questionnaire examination of Gray's personality theory. 1989

G D Wilson, and P T Barrett, and J A Gray
Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, UK.

The development of the Gray-Wilson Personality Questionnaire is described; this is an instrument designed to measure human equivalents of six animal behaviour paradigms--Approach, Active Avoidance, Passive Avoidance, Extinction, Fight and Flight. Although these six scales showed satisfactory internal consistency they failed to link up into the three major systems suggested by Gray's personality theory. The strongest associations were between Fight and Approach and between Flight and Passive Avoidance. This raises questions as to how the neurological systems of activation, inhibition and fight/flight are related to human personality structure.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D010553 Personality Development Growth of habitual patterns of behavior in childhood and adolescence. Development, Personality
D010556 Personality Tests Standardized objective tests designed to facilitate the evaluation of personality. Personality Test,Test, Personality,Tests, Personality
D011594 Psychometrics Assessment of psychological variables by the application of mathematical procedures. Psychometric
D011678 Punishment The application of an unpleasant stimulus or penalty for the purpose of eliminating or correcting undesirable behavior. Punishments
D003674 Defense Mechanisms Unconscious process used by an individual or a group of individuals in order to cope with impulses, feelings or ideas which are not acceptable at their conscious level; various types include reaction formation, projection and self reversal. Mechanisms, Defense
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D001143 Arousal Cortical vigilance or readiness of tone, presumed to be in response to sensory stimulation via the reticular activating system. Vigilance, Cortical,Arousals,Cortical Vigilance

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