AC2.2 Flashcards
What are the three individualistic theories?
Learning theory
Psychodynamic
Psychological
What is the Learning Theory name and theorist?
Social Learning Theory by Albert Bandura
What is the Psychological theory name and theorist?
Criminal personality by Hans Eysenck
What part of the mind does Eysenck’s theory focus on? and what does he specifically focus on?
The conscious mind but more specifically the personality traits and how they cause criminality
What did Eysenck believe caused a criminal personality?
A person will have an innate type of central nervous system inherited from their genetics which influences their personality
What are the three dimensions proposed by Eysenck?
Extraversion vs Introversion
Neuroticism vs Stability
Psychoticism vs Normality
What is Extraversion and what are the personality traits of people with an extroverted personality?
Individuals with highly extroverted personalities are believed to have an under-aroused nervous system, so they seek excitement and stimulation. They are sociable, carefree, optimistic, and impulsive
What is Introversion and what are the personality traits of people with an introverted personality?
Individuals with highly introverted personalities have a nervous system that is often over-aroused and stimulates itself. Therefore they don’t seek excitement and are more quiet and reserved people
What is Neuroticism and what are the personality traits of a person with this personality?
A persons neuroticism is determined by the reactivity of their sympathetic nervous system. Someone high in neuroticism will be unstable, and prone to overreacting to stimuli and may be quick to worry, anger, or fear
What is Stability and what are the personality traits of a person with this personality?
A stable persons nervous system will generally be less reactive to stressful situations, remaining calm and level headed with more control over their emotions
What is Psychoticism and what are the personality traits of a person with this personality?
Those with psychoticism are more prone to aggression and to having psychotic episodes. He believed those with psychoticism would lack empathy, be cruel, be a loner, and emotionally cold
What is Normality and what are the personality traits of a person with this personality?
Where individuals are more likely to act in responsible and caring ways. this normal and balanced behaviour makes them easier to be conditioned
What did Eysenck believe was the link between psychoticism and aggression? and what caused a normal personality?
Eysenck believed that the personality trait of aggression from psychoticism was from increased levels of testosterone and that people with a normal personality had lower levels of testosterone within the central nervous system
What can the criminal personality also be known as?
‘PEN Personality’
Psychoticism
Extraversion
Neuroticism
How does being higher in Extraversion make you more prone to crime?
As a result of their impulsive and risk taking personality they are more likely to commit criminal acts for the excitement and thrill
How does being higher in Neuroticism make you more prone to crime?
they are more reactive and volatile. The inability to control their emotions and remain calm could explain a wide range of behaviours including violent crimes
How does being higher in Psychoticism make you more prone to crime?
Due to the heightened levels of aggression and lack of caring. This can explain a wide range of serious crimes and offences who show no remorse or sympathy for their victims
What was the supporting research of the criminal personality theory and what was the procedure?
Eysenck and Eysenck -
They assessed 2070 male prisoners and compared them to a control group of 2422 non-criminal males. Participants were asked to complete an EPQ which assessed their personality traits
What were the findings of Eysenck and Eysenck’s research?
Upon analysis of the EPQ’s Eysenck found that the 2070 male prisoners recorded significantly higher scores of the E, N, and P compared to the 2422 non-criminal control group
What are three strengths of the criminal personality theory?
Supporting evidence - Eysenck & Eysenck
Can’t be labelled reductionist - holistic
Explains a wide range of criminal behaviour - different dimensions for different crimes
What are three weaknesses of the criminal personality theory?
Personalities aren’t fixed
Deterministic - ignores peoples self control and free will
Eysenck’s research is methodologically flawed - questionable validity of the results as it was a self-report quiz
What does the Social Learning theory suggest?
That people learn by watching the behaviour of others and refers to this as ‘observational learning’