AC 2.2 Individualistic theories

Question 1

Individualistic theories
- learning theories
- Bandura

Answer 1

Main points:
- People learn by observation
- Vicarious reinforcement(if a person observes another getting rewarded for an action = more chance the copy)
- we copy from ‘models’, those of higher status then ourselves

Study:
BOBO DOLL
- more chance child copies models actions when teyre rewarded vs punished, hitting bobo doll
Case Study: Jamie Bulger
- kids watched Childs Play 3 before the murders
- judge said exposure to violent video films may in part be an explanation

Question 2

Individualistic theories
- psychodynamic
- Eysenck

Answer 2

Main points:
- Eysenck believed that certain personality types were more likely to commit crime because they craved excitement, but are slow to learn consequences.
- Extraversion
Arousal in the nervous system – under aroused and seeks stimulation.
- Introversion
Innately over-aroused and reduce or avoid stimulation
- Neuroticism
Reacts quickly, vigilant for threat in the environment
- Stability
Calm under pressure, underactive SNS
- Psychoticism
Higher levels of testosterone – so men more likely to be psychotics

Study:
- Extraversion v Introversion (E for short)
- Neuroticism v Emotional Stability (N for short)
- Psychoticism added later
- His theory predicts that criminals will be people with the personalities which are
Extrovert
Neurotic
Psychotic

Question 3

Individualistic theories
- psychological theories
- Freud

Answer 3

Main points:
- Most of our mind is unconscious – these are biological drives that determine our behaviour & personality.
- ID: Present at birth and operates on the pleasure principle – it gets what it wants.
- EGO: Develops at around the age of two and it works on the reality principle. Balances ID/SUPEREGO
- SUPEREGO: Develops around the age of 5 years old and it works on the morality principle. It represents the moral standards of the same-sex parent and is responsible for guilt.

Study:
- A health personality needs a balance of all 3 parts
- However personality can become dominated by one aspect:
- ID: A person will act impulsively ‘taking what they want’, leading to criminal behaviour.
- SUPEREGO: A person will be moralistic and judgemental when perfection is not achieved.
- EGO: Struggle to accept changed and have a fixed / rigid lifestyle.
Bowlby
- A person will develop a dominant ID in the event that children don’t fully develop ego’s and superego’s through identifying with their same-sex parents.

• studied 44 juvenile delinquents, and compared them to non-criminal juveniles.
• 39% had experienced separation from their mothers for six months or more, during the first five years compared to just 5% of the control group.