A research article that is to be published in the Brain Research Bulletin is making the claim four major personality types – novelty seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence, and persistence – are directly tied to the physical structure of the brain. Researchers say the brain differences can be measured by the size of specific regions of the brain that are associated with the four personality types.

Brain scans that measure differences in volume down to an accuracy of less than one cubic millimetre found, for instance, that people defined as novelty-seeking personalities had a structurally bigger area of the brain above the eye sockets, known as the inferior part of the frontal lobe.

People with smaller volumes of tissue in this region displayed higher levels of timidity, approval-seeking behaviours and a greater tendency to seek gratification from external sources such as food or drugs, said Professor Annalena Venneri of the University of Hull.

While my days of education in the world of Psychology are years behind me, I find this quite interesting as such a finding has the ability to impact the understanding of personal development.  It also has the ability to potentially alter discussions and views on metaphysical discussion (free well and what have you).

If tissue volume plays a role in determining what personality an individual has, what else does it play into?  Does size dictate what individuals will be prone to depression?  Substance abuse?  And how does the years of nurturing, or lack of, determine what kind of an adult a child will develop into?

The problem I have with the concept of Nature being the driving force in personal development is the lack of accountability in ones actions. Say it is fact the a part of the brain with more volume controls how shy someone is, and a person is shown to have this trait via testing, they have the potential to say “I can prove to you why I am this way and why I won’t change.”  It’s almost like a crutch – I don’t want to try to change, I don’t want to put myself in different situations because it won’t work…

So, ultimately, if volume does indicate potential personality types, can the personality be modified via exposure to other personality types and, if so, does the physical structure of the brain also change?

I guess this has the potential to be a case where size does matter.

I have never been a drinker, actually, I’ve been drunk in my 31 years on this planet. There are a whole host of reasons as to why this is but, in the end, the concept of “going on a bender” never appealed to me. Yes, I like a good beer once and awhile but never to the point of inebriation. Mind you, I don’t have a problem with people who get blitzed, it’s just not for me.

Anyway, Britain’s Department of Health has identified 9 binge-drinking personality types. If you are one who partakes in the drink, which category do you fall into?

• “de-stress drinkers”: those who use alcohol to calm down at the end of a hard day. Typically middle-class men and women;
• “community drinkers”: driven by the need to belong. Usually lower middle-class men and women, who drink in big groups;
• “hedonistic drinkers”: crave stimulation and want to lose control. Often divorced people with grown-up children, with exhibitionist tendencies;
• “macho drinkers”: tend to spend most of their spare time in pubs. Mostly men of all ages;
• “re-bonding drinkers”: use drink as a way of keeping in touch with friends;
• “conformist drinkers”: driven by the need to belong and seek structure. Typically men aged 45-59 in clerical or manual jobs;
• “boredom drinkers”: those who drink to pass the time and relieve monotony;
• “depressed drinkers”: craving comfort, or feeling of safety. Can be of any age, sex or socio-economic group;
• “border dependents”: these regard the pub as an alternative home. They visit regularly, at all times of day, weekdays and weekends. Tend to drink quickly.

(source)

At the risk of sounding like I am promoting binge drinking, what is wrong with having a drink to de-stress? Granted, if one ALWAYS drinks to de-stress I can see an addiction aspect, but occasionally doesn’t seem to be a bad thing.

Why is it individuals turn to god when things are the darkest for them?

Often times one can hear comments like “god will see me through” when faced with a difficult challenge, or when things get overly burdensome people will try to negotiate with god as if faith and religion are some sort of commodity that can be bartered for. You know the types who suddenly speak out loud when the tornado is bearing down on them and say “god, you get me out of this and I’ll never masturbate again” or some such nonsense that is unrealistic and is a promise the person never intends to keep anyway.

In both cases it seems as if an individual’s faith is a thing that is utilized when only they need it. That is not to say people of faith, ones who live a life dedicated to their beliefs, don’t act in such a manner, it just seems as if individuals who are not as dedicated, who are not as in touch with their spiritual side, act that way more than anyone else.

Another characteristic I’ve noticed about the individuals willing to turn to go in the hardest moments in life is that these individuals are the brazen; type A personalities that believe they can do anything without the help of others. The “watch me juggle chain saws, rewrite the Declaration of Independence (better than the founding fathers) and solve the worlds dependence on Oil all before bed time” type.

I am not criticizing these personality types, nor am I getting all preachy saying that God is the answer to all problems but we as people need to realize that, sometimes, things are simply out of our control. Call it God, call it faith, call it lazy but on a “big picture” scale we have virtually no say in the matter.

Instead of turning to god at the last second realize that we truly have minimal over our lives – we have influence. We can influence our lives by exposing ourselves to minimal danger (e.g. – not living on the side of a volcano, eating healthy, not driving drunk) but, really, nature will decide if the tornado is going to rip our house apart, our body will decide if we get cancer, some drunk driver may have made the decision if we live or die…

I point out the Type A / Barter personality as the ones who seem most likely to turn to God in the “last second of the game” because it is this personality that has the hardest time letting go, who has the hardest time believing that there is something greater than themselves, and maybe that is why they turn to God when the chips are down. Maybe that is when they realize they cannot control all…

I’m sure you know plenty of Type A personalities. You know, the ones that seem to have limitless energy and have the ability to accomplish anything their hearts so desire – all without breaking into a sweat AND they manage to do it all before lunch.

How do these people get motivated, how do they keep their edge? I’m luck to roll out of bed at 6:30 and shower let alone have worked out, finished a report and read through today’s issue of the Wall Street Journal. Seriously, I am.

Back in May of this year I had a health issue that interfered with my motivation, my sense of “I can get this done”, and I have not had the ability to retain it since then. Sure, I see glimpses of it now and then, but I seem to be running on empty the last few months.

Motivation is a funny thing because when you have it – nothing can stop you. When you are lacking it seems as if the world is working against you. I’ve accepted the fact that I will never be the true type A personality and I may struggle just to get out of bed but I cannot accept “me” without motivation in life.