The personality theories of H. J. Eysenck and J. A. Gray: a comparative review

Hans J. Eysenck and Jeffrey A. Gray have proposed influential theories of t he biological bases of personality traits. Eysenck's theory concerns the ex traversion, neuroticism and psychoticism traits, whereas Gray proposes the use of new, rotated axes of impulsivity and anxiety. Eysenck uses multiple arousal systems as the central explanatory constructs, whereas Gray describ es more specific systems related to behavioural inhibition and activation. This article reviews the evidence relating to these theories provided by st udies of c.n.s. and a.n.s. psychophysiology, subjective affect, conditionin g and attention and performance. It discusses key predictive successes and failures and methodological problems which may impede theory-testing. It is concluded that there is a solid core of predictive support for the Eysenck theory in some paradigms, such as the moderator effect of stimulation leve l on individual differences in phasic electrodermal response and eyelid con ditioning. In other settings, the theory fails to explain empirical data ad equately, especially in studies of subjective response and attention and pe rformance. Gray's theory has advanced research through stimulating interest in moderation of personality effects by motivational variables. It also pr ovides a better explanation than Eysenck's theory for certain data, such as instrumental conditioning to reward stimuli and the positive affectivity o f extraverts, Overall, however, Gray's theory explains a narrower range of findings than Eysenck's. There is little evidence that Gray's revised perso nality axes are generally more predictive of psychophysiological and perfor mance criteria than Eysenck's original dimensions. Finally, it is suggested that the assumptions of the biological approach to personality are in need of reassessment. It is possible that the biological theories may be improv ed through developments in methodology or through discriminating multiple s ystems underpinning traits. For example, extraversion may have distinct "re ticulo-cortical'' and "dopaminergic" aspects, Alternatively, the biological approach may not in fact be adequate for explaining behavioural correlates of traits. In this case, trait research should place more bases for person ality. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.