AC2.2

Question 1

individualistic theories of criminality

Answer 1

learning theory = bandura
psychodynamic = freud
psychological = eysenck

Question 2

learning theory
observational learning

Answer 2

learning through the observation of role models criminal behavior leading to the imitation of that criminal behavior

Question 3

role models

Answer 3

all criminal behavior is learnt through role models displaying that behavior the observer values and wants to copy

Question 4

Mediational processes
ARRM

Answer 4

attention, retention, reproduction, motivation
individuals don’t copy all behavior they go through a process called mediational process which determine whether they copy criminal’s behavior

Question 5

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 5

an observer is more likely to imitate behavior if they witness a role model receive a positive outcome

Question 6

learning theory evaluation
strength

Answer 6

real world application- bandura’s research highlighted dangers of exploiting children to violence - led to watershed and age certification

Question 7

learning theory evaluation
weaknesses

Answer 7

lacks generalisability- study only used 6 year olds no way to apply findings to wider population so low in population validity
low in validity- children placed in unnatural environment may have figured out experiment and acted to please the researcher

Question 8

pyschological
eysenck personality theory

Answer 8

eysenck proposed behavior could be represented across 2 dimensions
-extroversion/introversion (E)
-neuroticism/stability (N)

Question 9

Extroversion
Neuroticism

Answer 9

people with high E scores are risk
takers,seek sensation and stimulation

people with high N scores are over anxious,nervous and react very strongly to aversise negative stimuli. neuroticism is determined by overall level of stability in CNS. low N score= stable relatively i reactive NS

Question 10

high score on E/N scale

Answer 10

people who score high on E/N scale have a criminal personality

Question 11

psychoticism

Answer 11

eysenck added third dimension of personality, P
people who score high on P are aggressive, antisocial, cold and egocentric

Question 12

Development

Answer 12

according to eysenck criminals are developmentally immature and difficult to condition- don’t learn from mistakes

Question 13

eysenck+ eysenck 1977

Answer 13

2000 males high on E,N,P compared with group of male controls
found that prisoners constantly scored higher than control group on all 3 measures

Question 14

eysenck personality theory evaluation
strengths

Answer 14

increase credibility- use of a control group acts as baseline to compare findings
avoids researcher bias- gathers quantitative data easy to interpret and not subjective to researcher bias or objective

Question 15

eysenck personality theory evaluation
weaknesses

Answer 15

low in population validity- research is androcentric 2000 males can’t be generalized to female offenders
only samples prisoners- does not cover criminals in community or criminals that haven’t been caught

Question 16

psychodynamic freud

Answer 16

freud theorized our mental activity is mostly unconscious and causes our our behavior
traumatic childhood experiences pushed into the unconscious mind can lead to criminality and mental disorders

Question 17

3 parts of personality

Answer 17

ID- develops at birth, pleasure principle, selfish part of personality, based on instant gratification

Ego- develops at 18months, reality principle, manages desires of the ID

Super ego- develops at 4-5 years phallic stage, morality principle, moral conscience ‘i can’t have part of personality’.
Inadequate Super ego- criminality develops when the super ego does not develop properly

Question 18

3 types of superego

Answer 18

weakness superego- caused by absent same sex parent in phallic stage

deviant superego- caused by internalization of immoral superego from deviant parents

overharsh superego- causing person to become anxious and unconsciously seek punishment by committing criminal acts

Question 19

psychodynamic
Bowlby maternal deprivation

Answer 19

criminality develops due to absence of primary caregiver in critical period, if this happens psychological damage is irreversible and leads to affliction less psychopathy (individual feels no remorse or empathy for actions)

Question 20

psychodynamic theory freud evaluation
weakness

Answer 20

low in scientific credibility- freud interviewed patients and conducted dream analysis so data was subjective and open to interpretation , data was very bias as freud developed the theory and uses his own patients to valid ideas