A short critique of the psychophysiology of individual differences

This paper was prepared by the Authors as a Discussion paper, designed to identify the main themes and methodological problems raised by other contributors to the Symposium. The key assumptions underlying the psychophysiological approach to individual differences are specified. Ideally, such assumptions should determine the characteristics of the research. Several sources of error in research strategy are discussed, including: psychometrics, physiological measurement, task conditions, statistical modelling, and the laboratory environment. The paper concludes with an appeal for more process-related investigations, focused on the interactive and integrative properties of the nervous system. Biologically- determined characteristics are unlikely to be revealed in any magnitude, under simple conditions of testing.