2.2✅ Flashcards
what does Bandura suggests?
suggested we learn criminal behaviour from others
who might we learn behaviours from?
• roles models such as:
- parents
- peers
- teachers
- media
what is social learning theory?
Proposes that we learn through observing behaviour and then imitating behaviour and then imitating behaviour of role models. Why?
- respect
- conforming
- norm
what is Bandura Bobo Doll study (1963)?
• lab experiment
• children watched 2 different adult role models interact with a bobo doll
• aggressive- kicked, hit with hands, mallet, threw doll
• non-aggressive- neutral play
• children were then put in the room with the bobo doll to see if they imitated
what are is the results of the study?
• aggressive role model- children imitated
• non-aggressive role model- non-aggressive role model
• more likely to imitate if role model was the same sex- able to identify
• males were more aggressive- Y chromosome as high testosterone, exposed more to violence
when would we be more likely to imitate behaviour?
• vicarious reinforcements
- indirect reinforcement- observe others, rewarded/punished
- more likely to imitate if the model was rewarded eg robbery- gang
- less likely to imitate if the mode was punished eg arrest, social exclusion
what is the operant learning theory?
By Skinner
• behaviour that results in a reward is likely to be repeated (positive reinforcement)
• the opposite for punishment
what is behaviourism?
cause to someone’s behaviour lies in the reinforcement/punishment
- this explains criminal behaviour
what is Jeffery’s theory?
If crime is more rewarding consequences than punishing ones they will be more likely to engage in criminal behaviour
- this could be finance rewards as well as emotional (friendship, respect, peers)
what is the association theory?
Sutherland suggests individuals learn criminal behaviour in the family and peer groups. This is the result of 2 factors:
1) imitation of criminal acts
2) learning attitudes
how does imitation result to criminality?
Individuals can acquire criminals skills/technique through observation
how does learning attitudes result in criminality?
socialisation within the group exposed the individual to attitudes/values about the law. Some may be favourable to the law or unfavourable. If the individual internalises more unfavourable than favourable attitudes/values they are more likely to become criminals
what is an example of learning attitudes?
WCC Sutherland found group attitudes in the workplace often normalise criminal behaviour. This made it easier for individuals to justify own behaviour
what is the strengths for social learning theory?
• supporting evidence from Bobo Doll experiment- effect of role model and observation on imitating behaviour- especially aggressive behaviour
• can be used to explain a wide range of criminality- James Bulgar/ copy cat murders/ reoffending/ WCC
what is the limitation in social learning theory?
• only a partial explanation for criminality- not all criminality is learnt eg people have free will and make a conscious choice not commit crime
• potentially lead to stereotypes and SFP - labelling individuals as criminals because of their role models
• fail to take into account biological theories
• Bobo Doll experiment- artificial- Bobo Doll was made to be hit
what did Freud believe?
Ice berg theory
- focused on childhood experiences and how these influenced personality and adulthood
- eg trauma may cause criminal behaviour this could be maternal deprivation (MD)
• loss/breakdown of care from mother
• Bowlby- affectionless psychopath this is someone who lacks guilt or empathy
• 44 thieves- 14/44 (AP), 12/44 (separation)
what did Freud believe about the mind?
Believed our mind could be broken into conscious, preconscious, and unconscious
what is the conscious mind?
Thoughts/feelings we are aware of
what is the unconscious mind?
thoughts/feelings we are not aware of
- threatening and repressed thoughts eg trauma
- personalities arise from conflicts between unconscious impulses and societal demands
- personality -> tripartite (3 parts)
what is the tripartite?
• aggression may be due to the unresolved conflict between the 3 aspects of personality
• tripartite personality types are Id, ego, superego
what is the biggest influence of behaviour?
Unconscious as this contains our biological drives
what is Id?
Instincts
- primitive
- present from birth
- selfish
- pleasure principle
what is the ego?
Reality
- second to reality
- mediates between Id and super ego
- reality principle
what is the super ego?
Morality
- last to develop (age 5)
- internalise morals of same sex parent
- morality principle- right/wrong
who do the personalities all develop properly?
Within a stable household if unstable ego/superego will fail to develop
what is the 3 types of super ego?
1) Weak
2) Deviant
3) Overly harsh
what is the weak super ego?
- result of an absence same sex parents
- underdeveloped super ego
- Id is able to overpower super ego= crime
what is the deviant super ego?
- result of a deviant same sex parents, so you internalise an immoral super ego
- developed super ego
what is the overly harsh super ego?
- result of a strict same sex parent/upbringing this makes you feel guilt
- unconscious needs for punishment
- restricts the Id and could lead to mental health
what is a defence mechanism?
- ego is used to manage conflict between Id and super ego
- one defence mechanism is DISPLACEMENT
- unconsciously redirects thoughts/feelings to a substitute target
- explains crime like domestic violence, anti-social crime (graffiti), child abused, animal abuse
what is the strengths of psychodynamic approach?
• demonstrated the importance of childhood experiences shaping adult behaviour which is generally supported
• Bowbly’s 44 thieves study found that affectionless psychopaths (lack guilt) had experienced prolonged separation (childhood trauma)
what is the limitations of psychodynamic approach?
• outdated theory
- more modern theories (eg. SLT) can better explain criminality through role models and imitation, rather than superego. Shifted towards more scientific theories of behaviour
• only a partial explanation
- cannot always explain criminal behaviour- not all criminals have experienced trauma or had an absent same sex parents. Similarly not everyone who has experienced trauma commits crime
• unfalsifiable
- unable to disprove the concept of the unconscious and Id, lacks scientific credibility. Eg. Failure to remember trauma is because it has been repressed
what is Eysenck criminal personality theory?
- personality types are the reason for criminal behaviour
- certain personality types are more likely to offend than others
what is Eysenck study?
1944
- used a questionnaire to assess personality of 700 soldiers
- all were being treated for neurosis at a hospital
- from responses, Eysenck identified 2 dimensions of personality. Each had their own personality traits
what is the extrovert personality like?
• seek stimulation thrill seeking behaviour care free
- impulsive (break rules)
- risk takes (break rules)
• eg: theft, car theft, gang violence, drug crime
what is neurotics personality like?
• anxious, unpredictable, over-react
- impulsive
- violent
what is psychotic personality like?
• low impulse control
• hostile
• aggressive
what are all the personalities like?
All are slow to learn from consequences
- reoffending
what did Eysenck believe?
• Believe that personlity was innate, inherited through our nervous system
• extroverts- underactive NS, seek stimulation and excitement
• neurotics- overactive NS, quick to react/response slow to learn from mistakes
what did Eysenck believe about the nervous system?
Believes the nervous system makes them difficult to socialise- delayed gratification
- the want immediate gratification
what was Eysenck research?
• assessed 2070 males prisoners who were compared to a control group of 2422 males
• on measures of E, N and P, prisoners recorded higher scores that the control group
• this reinforces criminality is linked to certain personality types
what is the strengths of Eysenck?
• Eysenck research on prisoners found high levels of E, N, P in criminals in prison this suggests a link between criminality and personality types
• If correct- personality could be identified in childhood and interventions in place to prevent crime occurring later in childhood
what is the limitations of Eysenck?
• reliance on self reports/questionnaire to measure the criminal personality- dishonest/socially desirable/lack accurate perception of self
• questionnaire may not be a stable measure of personality- may not be consistent across situations/contexts- difficult to measure accurately. Personality may not be fixed could change
• doesn’t explain all criminal behaviour- some introverted criminals rather than extrovert
• only correlational research may be a third variable that leads to criminality
