- Email: [email protected]
behavioral systems and happiness in male and female students
Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 00 (2011) 000–000 Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 30 (2011) 1576 – 1580
Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia
WCPCG-2011
Comparing the activity of brain/behavioral systems and happiness in male and female students Latif Alimoradia,*, Somaye Aubia, Shakila Yousefib a
Department of clinical psychology, Member of young researchers Club, Islamic Azad University, Branch of Torbat-e Jam - Iran b Department of Educational Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Branch of Taybad - Iran
Abstract This study aimed to compare the activity of brain/behavioral systems (behavioral activity system, behavioral inhibition system, fight-flight system) and happiness in male and female students. In the present study, 100 students (55 female and 45 male) were selected by convenience sampling method. The participants were asked to complete the Gray-Wilson personality Questionnaire (GWPQ) and oxford happiness inventory (0HI). Analysis of the data involved both descriptive and inferential statistics including means, standard deviations and Student’s t-test. The results show there is a significant difference between two groups in level activity of behavioral activity system (BAS), behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and fight- flight system (FFS). Generally, happiness rate and activity level of BAS in males group is more than females group, but females group were more active in BIS and FFS. The results show that happiness rate is increased by more active BAS. Accordingly, the findings of this study conform with Gray model abut reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST). Keywords: happiness; behavioral activity system, behavioral inhibition system, fight- flight system;
1. Introduction During recent years, psychobiological approaches in personality, have been improved and evolved increasingly, and or the other hand, personality streams and dimensions are from important interventive factors in psychological disorders, in order to determine the relationship between personality traits and psychosomatic disorders, one can refer to the various hypothesis including Jeffry Allen Gray views. Gray’s reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) is based on the existence of three independent (But interacting) emotional systems in the central nervous system that underlie motivated behavior: the behavioral activity system (BAS), the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and the fight–flight-freezing system (FFFS) (Gray & McNaughton, 2002). The BAS is activated by conditioned and unconditioned signals of reward or relief from punishment, and it mediates approach behavior. The FFFS is *
Latif Alimoradi. Tel.: +98 936 759 9637 E-mail address: [email protected] (l.alimoradi)
1877-0428 © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the 2nd World Conference on Psychology, Counselling and Guidance. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.306
Latif Alimoradi et al. / Procedia Procedia –- Social – 1580 Latif Alimoradi/ Social and and Behavioral Behavioral Sciences Sciences 30 00 (2011) (2011) 1576 000–000
1577
activated by unconditioned, innate, and conditioned aversive signals, and it mediates escape behaviors. The BIS is responsible for inhibition or interruption of the ongoing behavior, and is activated when conflicting goals are concurrently presented (competition between two approach, or approach and avoidance behaviors), giving rise to an anxiety response (Gray & McNaughton, 2002; Corr, 2002). BAS would be involved in the experience of positive affects, and FFFS in the experience of negative ones (fear), in response to related cues, while BIS is involved in anxiety states. Furthermore, BIS and BAS sensitivity differences within individuals were proposed to account for personality differences: BAS give rise to what is called Impulsivity dimension, and BIS is linked to Anxiety dimension (i.e., predisposition to feel anxiety) (Gray, 1970; Corr, 2004). Although the predictions regarding personality–emotions relationships from Gray’s recently revised model (Gray & McNaughton, 2002) have still to be clarified, the previously advanced relations between positive affects sensitivity and BAS and between negative affects sensitivity and BIS (jointly with FFFS) seem to remain generally relevant (Corr, 2002, 2004) Thus, highBAS (impulsive) subjects would typically experience positive affects, while high-BIS (anxious) subjects would preferentially experience negative affects. Brebner (1998) knows happiness as a variable that has a personality basis and be also equals his happiness and extroversion hypothesis with that of Eysenck, so happiness is a personality trait which can be considered for it a biological basis according to Eysenck theory (Francis, Brown, Leste & Philip, 1998). According to Argyle, Martin and Lu (1995) happiness has three basic and principal components as: positive emotion, satisfaction from life and lack of negative emotions including depression and anxiety. In recent years for determining the reasons and consequences of happiness or mental well-being a lot of efforts have been conducted (Cheng, Furnham, 2002). Also the present researches consider the happiness as one of the traits which is resulted from individuals personality and there are extensive research literature abut the relationship between personality traits and happiness (Argyle, 2001). The first conducted researches in the field of personality and happiness traits (Costa and McCrae) show that happiness is connected with high level of extroversion and low level of affliction temperament (Costa & McCrae, 1980). The most of the conducted researches after this review also affirmed with these relationships (Furnham & Brewin, 1990; Furham & Cheng, 1999, 2000, 2001; Francis, Katz, Yalbon & Robbins, 2004). Pickering and Dias (1993) Corr, Pickering and Gray (1995) and Gomez and Cooper (2006) studies show that there is a significant and positive correlation between extroversion and behavioral activating system. Schwartz and Strach (1991) believe that happy people are those who have bias towards optimism and cheerfulness, i.e. they process the information in a way that results in their happiness. And because psychological variables as positive cognition, social commitment, positive mood, life control feelings, physical health, selfsatisfaction and mental awareness are considered happiness components, so happiness has an important role in mental health (Argyle, Martin and Lu, 1995). The ability to be happy and life satisfaction are from adjustment and positive mental health criteria (Lyubomersky, Sheldon & Schkade, 2005). By considering the above mentioned researches, there is a relationship between extroversion and behavioral activating system and also between extroversion and happiness and since there are a few studies about the relationship between happiness and behavioral activating systems, so the present research along with this aim, reviews the comparison of the present relationship between brain/behavioral systems and happiness. 2. Method 2.1. Participants The present research is in a causative- comparative context. Statistical universe, statistical sample and sampling method are on the basis of main aim and nature of this study on the basis of comparing the activity of brain/behavioral systems and happiness in male and female students. Statistical universe includes male and female dormitory students of torbat-e jam Azad University in one semester (2010-2011) who are selected on the basis of available sampling 100 students (55 female, 45 male) with age mean (M)and standard deviation(SD) (M=21.6 , SD=2.6) for girls and (M=22.1,SD =3.4) for boys as statistical sample. 2.2. Measures
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Latif Alimoradi/ Alimoradi etProcedia al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 30 (2011) 1576 – 1580 Latif – Social and Behavioral Sciences 00 (2011) 000–000
Gray - Wilson personality questionnaire (GWPQ). this questionnaire which evaluates the rate of cerebral/behavioral systems activities and its components, is a self-evaluation personality questionnaire, which is designed by Wilson, Barrett and Gray (1990) in England and includes 120 items and for each item there are three options as yea, no and I don't know, in designing this questionnaire it is tried that special items content of each component be diverse. Each item includes 20 elements that for reducing the probability of agreeable responses bias, each one of 10 data of the elements approximately are being corresponded with 10 logical inverse elements. In the field of validity of this questionnaire, Wilson, Barrett and Gray (1989) obtained Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient for the elements of approach, active avoidance, passive avoidance, extinction and fight and flight: 0.71, 0.61, 0.58, 0.61, 0.65 and 0.65 for men and 0.68, 0.35, 0.59, 0.63, 0.71 and 0.71 for women respectively, which show the appropriate internal consistency of the test. This questionnaire is translated in to Persian language by Azad fallah, et al. (2001) and it is 0.66, 0.65 and 0.69 for the elements of approach, active avoidance, passive avoidance, extinction, fight and flight respectively and he reported consistency coefficients by halving method as 0.53, 0.57, 0.52, 0.62, 0.64 and 0.64 respectively (Ashrafi, 2005). Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI). This draft is provided by Argyle and Lu in (1990) this inventory has 29 items, that subjects respond on the basis of applying each one of items for him/her, and determines his/her response on the basis of a 4 degrees scale from 1 to 4 from validity viewpoint, the validity of Oxford happiness inventory in Noorbala research (2009) on 25 students, Cronbach’s Alpha 0.93 was obtained which is higher in comparison with other researches. Argyle (2001), Furnham and Brewin (1990) and Francis, et al (1998) also obtained Alpha 0.90, 0.87, 0.89 and 0.90 respectively (Noorbala, 2009). After completing the questionnaires by male and female dormitory student’s data analysis were conducted in both descriptive (mean, standard deviation) and inference (Student’s t-test) levels by using SPSS software. 3. Results Table 1. Means, standard deviations (SD), and Student’s t-test between happiness and brain/behavioral systems for male and female students Variable OHI BAS BIS FFFS
Female M (SD)
Male M (SD)
62.63 (14.93) 36.21 (5.07) 34.7 6(10.21) 37.29(8.54)
80.22 (11.87) 44.64 (4.39) 29.80 (10.35) 33.11 (10.45)
t
(df=98)
p
_6.41** _8.76** 2.39** 2.2*
0.000 0.000 0.001 0.003
Note. N = 100 (55 female, 45 male). OHI= Oxford Happiness Inventory; BAS = Behavioral activity system; BIS = Behavioral inhibition system; FFFS = Fight–flight-freezing system * p<0/05 **p<0/01
The results show that there is a difference in happiness rate between female and male students and happiness scores average of male students is more than female students. There is different also in BAS between female and male students so that BAS activity in male students is more that female students, also the results show that there is a significant difference between two groups in FFS and BIS, so that the sensitivity to BIS and FFS in female group is more than male group. Generally it can be resulted that there is a more sensitivity to BAS and high happiness and there is a low sensitivity to BIS and FFS and low happiness. 4. Discussion The present study was conducted by the aim of comparing activity of brain/behavioral systems and happiness in both female and male students groups. On the basis of this research finding there is a significant difference between two groups in happiness rate, so that male students show more happiness in comparison with female students.
Latif Alimoradi et al. / Procedia Procedia –- Social – 1580 Latif Alimoradi/ Social and and Behavioral Behavioral Sciences Sciences 30 00 (2011) (2011) 1576 000–000
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Also male students show more activity in BAS than female students while female students group show more sensitivity in BIS and FFS. The results of this research conform with Gray theory (Gray, 1990, 2002; Corr, 2002) that there is a relationship between happiness and BAS. While there is not a relationship between happiness an BIS and in one hand there is a relationship between low level of happiness and high FFS. Moreover Carver and White (1994) show that BAS predicts happiness, also the sensitivity rate of BAS, predicts happiness because of approximate reward and sensitivity rate of BIS predicts anger level as a response to the approximate punishment (Vemeersch, Tsjoen, Kaufman & Vincke, 2009). Carver and White also observed that those who have BAS sensitivity response with more happiness when they confront with challenging demands (Carver and white, 1994). Mansoori and Esmaili (2010) also shows that there is a relationship between happiness, BAS and mental health while there is not a relationship between happiness and BIS. Gray (1982, 1990) admitted that BAS is sensitive to reward clues without punishment and escaping from dangers and it has a relationship with positive emotions as happiness, hope and joy in contrast, BIS is sensitive to punishment, lack of reward and refreshness evidences and it has a relationship with negative emotions as fear, frustration, anxiety and annoyance (Carver and white, 1994). Fowles also considers BAS along with parasympathic system reactivity and he believes that it can be expected that BAS underlies emotional states as hope and happiness (Corr, 2002). On the other hand FFS sensitivity which is the system responsible for intermediating or unconditional harmful stimuli, also is responsible for escape and avoidance behaviors and also it intermediates for taking out the individual from those situations and is followed by fear emotion (Corr, 2004) and has a relationship with psychoticism (Fowls, 1994) Also BAS in a way has a relationship with hope, happiness and sedation and this system leads one to confront with difficulties and efforts in order to remove the obstacles and seeking for desirable aims (Pinto-Meza et al. 2006). But excessive supremacy and sensitivity of BIS leads one into the distress and depression (Kasch, Rottenberg, Aronw & Gotlib, 2002). By reviewing previous research literature and present research findings and on the basis of Jeffry Gray theory it can be concluded that the differences in brain/behavioral systems cause personal differences and it also can be a basis for a lot of mental disorders so the present research results conform with hypothesis of Gray reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) on the basis of there is a positive relationship between happiness, hope, joy and BAS but it has not a relationship with BIS. Reference Argyle, M., Lu, L. (1990). The happiness of extroverts. Personality and Individual Differences, 11, 1011-1017. Argyle, M., Martin, M., & Lu, L. (1995). Testing for stress and happiness: The role of social and cognitive factors. In C. D. Spielberger, & I. G. Sarason. (Eds). Stress and emotion, Washington D. C: Taylor & Francis. Argyle, M. (2001). The psychology of happiness (2nd, Ed.). London: Routledge, (Chapter 3). Argyle, M. (2001). The psychology of happiness (2nd. Ed.). London: Routledge, (Chapter 5). Ashrafi, A. (2005). Evaluation of properties psychometric of Gray-Wilson personality questionnaire (Eds) tarbit-modars University, (pp. 89-110). Tehran. Carver, C. S., & White, T. L. (1994). Behavioral inhibition, behavioral activation, and affective responses to impeding Reward and punishment: the BIS/BAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 319–333. Cheng, H., & Furnham, A. (2005). Personality, peer relations and self-confidences as predictors of happiness and loneliness. Journal of Adolescence, 46, 445-517. Cheng, H., Furnham, A. (2001). Attribution style and personality as predictors of happiness and mental health. Journal of Happiness Studies, 2, 307-327. Corr, P. J., Pickering, A. D., & Gray, J. A. (1995). Personality and reinforcement in associative and instrumental learning. Personality and Individual Differences, 19, 47–71. Corr, P. J., Gray’s, J. A. (2002). reinforcement sensitivity theory: tests of the joint subsystem hypothesis of anxiety and Impulsivity. Personality and Individual Differences, 33, 511–532. Corr, P. J. (2004). Reinforcement sensitivity theory and personality. Neuroscience and Behavioral Reviews, 28, 317–332. Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. (1980). Influence of extraversion and neuroticism on subjective well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 338, 668-678. Fowles, D. C. (1994). A motivational theory of psychopathology. In W. Spaulding (Ed.), Integrated views of motivation and emotion: vol. 41, of the Nebraska Symposium on Motivation, 181–238. Francis, L. J., Brown, I. B., Leste, D., & Philip chalk, P. (1998). Happiness as stable extraversion: A cross-cultural examination of the reliability and validity of the Oxford Happiness Inventory among students in U.K., U.S.A, Australian, and Canada, Personality and Individual Difference, 24, 167-171.
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Francis, L. J., katz, Y. J., Yalbon. Y., & Robbins, M. (2004). Religiosity, personality, and happiness: A study among Israeli male undergraduates. Journal of Happiness Studies, 5, 315-333. Furnham, A., & Brewin, C. J. (1990). Personality and happiness. Personality and Individual Differences, 11, 761-762. Furnham, A., Cheng, H. (1999). Personality as predictor of mental health and happiness in the east and west. Personality and Individual Differences, 27, 395-403. Furnham, A., & Cheng, H. (2000). Perceived parental behavior, self esteem, and happiness. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 35, 463-470. Gomez, R., Cooper, A., & Gomez, A. (2006). Susceptibility to positive and negative mood states: a test of Eysenck s, Grays and Newman’s theories. Personality and Individual Differences, 29, 351-362. Gray, J. A. (1970). The psycho physiological basis of introversion–extraversion. Behavioral Research and Therapy, 8, 249–266. Gray, J. A. (1982). The neuropsychology of anxiety: An enquiry into the functions of the septo-hippocampal system. Oxford:Oxford University Press, (chapter 2). Gray, J. A. (1990). Brain systems that mediate both emotion and cognition. Cognition and Emotion, 4, 269–288. Gray, J. A., & McNaughton, N. (2002). The neuropsychology of anxiety: an inquiry into the functions of the septohippocampal system (2nd, Ed.). Oxford: Oxford University press, (chapter 1). Kasch, K. L., Rottenberg, J., Arnow, B. A., & Gotlib, I. H. (2002). Behavioral activation and inhibition systems and the severity and course of depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 111, 589–597. Lyubomersky, S., Sheldon, K., & schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: the architecture of sustainable change. Review of general psychology, 2, 111-131. Mansoori, A., esmaili, M., & Mansoori, N. (2010). Relationship Happiness activation system and behavioral inhibition and mental health. First National Conference of happiness. University of Sistan and Baluchestan. Noorbala, A. & Ali Pour, A. (2009). review preliminary reliability and validity of the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire on students at Tehran University, thought and behavior, 5, 35-40. Pickering, A. D., & Dias, A. (1993). The relationship between Grays and Eysencks Personality Spaces. Personality and Individual Differences, 15, 297- 305. Pinto-Meza, A., Caseras, X., Soler, J., Puigdemont, D., Perez, V., & Torrubia, R. (2006). Behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation systems in current and recovered major depression participants. Personality and Individual Differences, 40, 215-226. Schwartz, N. & Strach, F. (1991). Evaluating one's life: A judgement model of subjectivewell-bing. Subjective well-being. Oxford: Pergamum, (chapter 2). Vermeersch, H., T'Sjoen, G., Kaufman, J., & Vincke, J. (2009). The relationship between sex steroid hormones and behavioural inhibition (BIS) and behavioural activation (BAS) in adolescent boys and girls. Personality and Individual Differences, 3(1), 7-13. Wilson, G. D., Barrett, P. T., & Gray, J. A. (1989). Human reactions to reward and punishment: A questionnaire examination of Gray’s personality theory. British Journal of Psychology, 80, 509–515. Wilson, G. D., Gray, J. A., & Barrett, P. T. (1990). A factor analysis of the Gray–Wilson Personality Questionnaire. Personality and Individual Differences, 10, 1037–1045.
Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia
WCPCG-2011
Comparing the activity of brain/behavioral systems and happiness in male and female students Latif Alimoradia,*, Somaye Aubia, Shakila Yousefib a
Department of clinical psychology, Member of young researchers Club, Islamic Azad University, Branch of Torbat-e Jam - Iran b Department of Educational Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Branch of Taybad - Iran
Abstract This study aimed to compare the activity of brain/behavioral systems (behavioral activity system, behavioral inhibition system, fight-flight system) and happiness in male and female students. In the present study, 100 students (55 female and 45 male) were selected by convenience sampling method. The participants were asked to complete the Gray-Wilson personality Questionnaire (GWPQ) and oxford happiness inventory (0HI). Analysis of the data involved both descriptive and inferential statistics including means, standard deviations and Student’s t-test. The results show there is a significant difference between two groups in level activity of behavioral activity system (BAS), behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and fight- flight system (FFS). Generally, happiness rate and activity level of BAS in males group is more than females group, but females group were more active in BIS and FFS. The results show that happiness rate is increased by more active BAS. Accordingly, the findings of this study conform with Gray model abut reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST). Keywords: happiness; behavioral activity system, behavioral inhibition system, fight- flight system;
1. Introduction During recent years, psychobiological approaches in personality, have been improved and evolved increasingly, and or the other hand, personality streams and dimensions are from important interventive factors in psychological disorders, in order to determine the relationship between personality traits and psychosomatic disorders, one can refer to the various hypothesis including Jeffry Allen Gray views. Gray’s reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) is based on the existence of three independent (But interacting) emotional systems in the central nervous system that underlie motivated behavior: the behavioral activity system (BAS), the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and the fight–flight-freezing system (FFFS) (Gray & McNaughton, 2002). The BAS is activated by conditioned and unconditioned signals of reward or relief from punishment, and it mediates approach behavior. The FFFS is *
Latif Alimoradi. Tel.: +98 936 759 9637 E-mail address: [email protected] (l.alimoradi)
1877-0428 © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the 2nd World Conference on Psychology, Counselling and Guidance. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.306
Latif Alimoradi et al. / Procedia Procedia –- Social – 1580 Latif Alimoradi/ Social and and Behavioral Behavioral Sciences Sciences 30 00 (2011) (2011) 1576 000–000
1577
activated by unconditioned, innate, and conditioned aversive signals, and it mediates escape behaviors. The BIS is responsible for inhibition or interruption of the ongoing behavior, and is activated when conflicting goals are concurrently presented (competition between two approach, or approach and avoidance behaviors), giving rise to an anxiety response (Gray & McNaughton, 2002; Corr, 2002). BAS would be involved in the experience of positive affects, and FFFS in the experience of negative ones (fear), in response to related cues, while BIS is involved in anxiety states. Furthermore, BIS and BAS sensitivity differences within individuals were proposed to account for personality differences: BAS give rise to what is called Impulsivity dimension, and BIS is linked to Anxiety dimension (i.e., predisposition to feel anxiety) (Gray, 1970; Corr, 2004). Although the predictions regarding personality–emotions relationships from Gray’s recently revised model (Gray & McNaughton, 2002) have still to be clarified, the previously advanced relations between positive affects sensitivity and BAS and between negative affects sensitivity and BIS (jointly with FFFS) seem to remain generally relevant (Corr, 2002, 2004) Thus, highBAS (impulsive) subjects would typically experience positive affects, while high-BIS (anxious) subjects would preferentially experience negative affects. Brebner (1998) knows happiness as a variable that has a personality basis and be also equals his happiness and extroversion hypothesis with that of Eysenck, so happiness is a personality trait which can be considered for it a biological basis according to Eysenck theory (Francis, Brown, Leste & Philip, 1998). According to Argyle, Martin and Lu (1995) happiness has three basic and principal components as: positive emotion, satisfaction from life and lack of negative emotions including depression and anxiety. In recent years for determining the reasons and consequences of happiness or mental well-being a lot of efforts have been conducted (Cheng, Furnham, 2002). Also the present researches consider the happiness as one of the traits which is resulted from individuals personality and there are extensive research literature abut the relationship between personality traits and happiness (Argyle, 2001). The first conducted researches in the field of personality and happiness traits (Costa and McCrae) show that happiness is connected with high level of extroversion and low level of affliction temperament (Costa & McCrae, 1980). The most of the conducted researches after this review also affirmed with these relationships (Furnham & Brewin, 1990; Furham & Cheng, 1999, 2000, 2001; Francis, Katz, Yalbon & Robbins, 2004). Pickering and Dias (1993) Corr, Pickering and Gray (1995) and Gomez and Cooper (2006) studies show that there is a significant and positive correlation between extroversion and behavioral activating system. Schwartz and Strach (1991) believe that happy people are those who have bias towards optimism and cheerfulness, i.e. they process the information in a way that results in their happiness. And because psychological variables as positive cognition, social commitment, positive mood, life control feelings, physical health, selfsatisfaction and mental awareness are considered happiness components, so happiness has an important role in mental health (Argyle, Martin and Lu, 1995). The ability to be happy and life satisfaction are from adjustment and positive mental health criteria (Lyubomersky, Sheldon & Schkade, 2005). By considering the above mentioned researches, there is a relationship between extroversion and behavioral activating system and also between extroversion and happiness and since there are a few studies about the relationship between happiness and behavioral activating systems, so the present research along with this aim, reviews the comparison of the present relationship between brain/behavioral systems and happiness. 2. Method 2.1. Participants The present research is in a causative- comparative context. Statistical universe, statistical sample and sampling method are on the basis of main aim and nature of this study on the basis of comparing the activity of brain/behavioral systems and happiness in male and female students. Statistical universe includes male and female dormitory students of torbat-e jam Azad University in one semester (2010-2011) who are selected on the basis of available sampling 100 students (55 female, 45 male) with age mean (M)and standard deviation(SD) (M=21.6 , SD=2.6) for girls and (M=22.1,SD =3.4) for boys as statistical sample. 2.2. Measures
1578
Latif Alimoradi/ Alimoradi etProcedia al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 30 (2011) 1576 – 1580 Latif – Social and Behavioral Sciences 00 (2011) 000–000
Gray - Wilson personality questionnaire (GWPQ). this questionnaire which evaluates the rate of cerebral/behavioral systems activities and its components, is a self-evaluation personality questionnaire, which is designed by Wilson, Barrett and Gray (1990) in England and includes 120 items and for each item there are three options as yea, no and I don't know, in designing this questionnaire it is tried that special items content of each component be diverse. Each item includes 20 elements that for reducing the probability of agreeable responses bias, each one of 10 data of the elements approximately are being corresponded with 10 logical inverse elements. In the field of validity of this questionnaire, Wilson, Barrett and Gray (1989) obtained Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient for the elements of approach, active avoidance, passive avoidance, extinction and fight and flight: 0.71, 0.61, 0.58, 0.61, 0.65 and 0.65 for men and 0.68, 0.35, 0.59, 0.63, 0.71 and 0.71 for women respectively, which show the appropriate internal consistency of the test. This questionnaire is translated in to Persian language by Azad fallah, et al. (2001) and it is 0.66, 0.65 and 0.69 for the elements of approach, active avoidance, passive avoidance, extinction, fight and flight respectively and he reported consistency coefficients by halving method as 0.53, 0.57, 0.52, 0.62, 0.64 and 0.64 respectively (Ashrafi, 2005). Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI). This draft is provided by Argyle and Lu in (1990) this inventory has 29 items, that subjects respond on the basis of applying each one of items for him/her, and determines his/her response on the basis of a 4 degrees scale from 1 to 4 from validity viewpoint, the validity of Oxford happiness inventory in Noorbala research (2009) on 25 students, Cronbach’s Alpha 0.93 was obtained which is higher in comparison with other researches. Argyle (2001), Furnham and Brewin (1990) and Francis, et al (1998) also obtained Alpha 0.90, 0.87, 0.89 and 0.90 respectively (Noorbala, 2009). After completing the questionnaires by male and female dormitory student’s data analysis were conducted in both descriptive (mean, standard deviation) and inference (Student’s t-test) levels by using SPSS software. 3. Results Table 1. Means, standard deviations (SD), and Student’s t-test between happiness and brain/behavioral systems for male and female students Variable OHI BAS BIS FFFS
Female M (SD)
Male M (SD)
62.63 (14.93) 36.21 (5.07) 34.7 6(10.21) 37.29(8.54)
80.22 (11.87) 44.64 (4.39) 29.80 (10.35) 33.11 (10.45)
t
(df=98)
p
_6.41** _8.76** 2.39** 2.2*
0.000 0.000 0.001 0.003
Note. N = 100 (55 female, 45 male). OHI= Oxford Happiness Inventory; BAS = Behavioral activity system; BIS = Behavioral inhibition system; FFFS = Fight–flight-freezing system * p<0/05 **p<0/01
The results show that there is a difference in happiness rate between female and male students and happiness scores average of male students is more than female students. There is different also in BAS between female and male students so that BAS activity in male students is more that female students, also the results show that there is a significant difference between two groups in FFS and BIS, so that the sensitivity to BIS and FFS in female group is more than male group. Generally it can be resulted that there is a more sensitivity to BAS and high happiness and there is a low sensitivity to BIS and FFS and low happiness. 4. Discussion The present study was conducted by the aim of comparing activity of brain/behavioral systems and happiness in both female and male students groups. On the basis of this research finding there is a significant difference between two groups in happiness rate, so that male students show more happiness in comparison with female students.
Latif Alimoradi et al. / Procedia Procedia –- Social – 1580 Latif Alimoradi/ Social and and Behavioral Behavioral Sciences Sciences 30 00 (2011) (2011) 1576 000–000
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Also male students show more activity in BAS than female students while female students group show more sensitivity in BIS and FFS. The results of this research conform with Gray theory (Gray, 1990, 2002; Corr, 2002) that there is a relationship between happiness and BAS. While there is not a relationship between happiness an BIS and in one hand there is a relationship between low level of happiness and high FFS. Moreover Carver and White (1994) show that BAS predicts happiness, also the sensitivity rate of BAS, predicts happiness because of approximate reward and sensitivity rate of BIS predicts anger level as a response to the approximate punishment (Vemeersch, Tsjoen, Kaufman & Vincke, 2009). Carver and White also observed that those who have BAS sensitivity response with more happiness when they confront with challenging demands (Carver and white, 1994). Mansoori and Esmaili (2010) also shows that there is a relationship between happiness, BAS and mental health while there is not a relationship between happiness and BIS. Gray (1982, 1990) admitted that BAS is sensitive to reward clues without punishment and escaping from dangers and it has a relationship with positive emotions as happiness, hope and joy in contrast, BIS is sensitive to punishment, lack of reward and refreshness evidences and it has a relationship with negative emotions as fear, frustration, anxiety and annoyance (Carver and white, 1994). Fowles also considers BAS along with parasympathic system reactivity and he believes that it can be expected that BAS underlies emotional states as hope and happiness (Corr, 2002). On the other hand FFS sensitivity which is the system responsible for intermediating or unconditional harmful stimuli, also is responsible for escape and avoidance behaviors and also it intermediates for taking out the individual from those situations and is followed by fear emotion (Corr, 2004) and has a relationship with psychoticism (Fowls, 1994) Also BAS in a way has a relationship with hope, happiness and sedation and this system leads one to confront with difficulties and efforts in order to remove the obstacles and seeking for desirable aims (Pinto-Meza et al. 2006). But excessive supremacy and sensitivity of BIS leads one into the distress and depression (Kasch, Rottenberg, Aronw & Gotlib, 2002). By reviewing previous research literature and present research findings and on the basis of Jeffry Gray theory it can be concluded that the differences in brain/behavioral systems cause personal differences and it also can be a basis for a lot of mental disorders so the present research results conform with hypothesis of Gray reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) on the basis of there is a positive relationship between happiness, hope, joy and BAS but it has not a relationship with BIS. Reference Argyle, M., Lu, L. (1990). The happiness of extroverts. Personality and Individual Differences, 11, 1011-1017. Argyle, M., Martin, M., & Lu, L. (1995). Testing for stress and happiness: The role of social and cognitive factors. In C. D. Spielberger, & I. G. Sarason. (Eds). Stress and emotion, Washington D. C: Taylor & Francis. Argyle, M. (2001). The psychology of happiness (2nd, Ed.). London: Routledge, (Chapter 3). Argyle, M. (2001). The psychology of happiness (2nd. Ed.). 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