• Admin
    UC Research Repository
    View Item 
       
    • UC Home
    • Library
    • UC Research Repository
    • College of Science
    • Science: Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
       
    • UC Home
    • Library
    • UC Research Repository
    • College of Science
    • Science: Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

    All of the RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    A systems theory approach to the study of personality

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    ritchie_thesis.pdf (12.29Mb)
    Author
    Ritchie, Robert Garth
    Date
    1984
    Permanent Link
    http://hdl.handle.net/10092/4776
    Thesis Discipline
    Psychology
    Degree Grantor
    University of Canterbury
    Degree Level
    Doctoral
    Degree Name
    Doctor of Philosophy

    The literature on information processing approaches to emotion is surveyed. It is concluded than an approach that looks at the way in which the emotion system employs the cognitive system has merit. In Chapter two Miller's (1978) criticism of abstract system theory is applied to personality theory. It is argued in the light of this criticism that psychologists should identify the cognitive microprocesses associated with emotion as the first step in a concrete theory of personality. Chapters three, four, and five, detail a series of experiments towards identifying the microprocesses of emotion. Chapter three details how perceptual defence was found to decrease with increased levels of arousal. Chapter four details an investigation of the effects of emotion upon the semantic network. Some indication of subject differences in the processing of threat related material was obtained. In chapter five, experimental evidence of attention biasing towards affect congruent material is outlined. Momentary affect states seem to have a strong influence on attention. A theory of emotions as problem solving heuristics is put forward in Chapter six. The theory is formulated in the terminology of Anderson's (1983) ACT model of cognitive skills. It is used to account for experimental and phenomenological data. Lastly, the promise and limitations of the ACT model of emotion are noted in Chapter seven. It is concluded that research into the influence of emotion on information processing might be an essential component of a 'concrete' theory of personality.

    Collections
    • Science: Theses and Dissertations [3440]
    Rights
    https://canterbury.libguides.com/rights/theses

    UC Research Repository
    University Library
    University of Canterbury
    Private Bag 4800
    Christchurch 8140

    Phone
    364 2987 ext 8718

    Email
    ucresearchrepository@canterbury.ac.nz

    Follow us
    FacebookTwitterYoutube

    © University of Canterbury Library
    Send Feedback | Contact Us