AC2.2

Question 1

Bandura - social learning theory (SLT)

Answer 1

Believes people learn by watching others behaviours
Used bobo doll
If imitating models’ behaviour rewarding we’re more likely to continue behaviour

Question 2

How do the findings of the bobo doll experiment account for criminality?

Answer 2

• criminals in prison learn from those around them
• ‘universities of crime’

Question 3

Behaviourist Psychology

Answer 3

Behaviourism
Theory of learning
Based on idea that all behaviours acquired through conditioning

Question 4

Operant learning theory

Answer 4

psychologist B.F. Skinner
- if behaviour results in reward = more likely to repeat it

Question 5

Differential reinforcement theory

Answer 5

Skinner
Argues all behaviour result of positive reinforcement and punishments

If crime has rewarding consequences more likely to engage in criminal behaviour

Question 6

Sigmund Freud - Psychodynamic theories

Answer 6

• examine childhood experiences to understand behaviour
• suggested much of mind is unconscious (iceberg theory)
• personality divided into 3:
  • id
  • ego
  • superego

Question 7

id

Answer 7

wants instant gratification and represents our animalistic urges

Question 8

ego

Answer 8

less primitive
rational and sensible control

Question 9

superego

Answer 9

moral conscience
right and wrong
stay home and complete all your hw

Question 10

Bowlby (1994)

Answer 10

Maternal deprivation
Criminals are children who did not make transition according to Freud
Bowlby found that child needs stable home in order to successfully make this transition

Question 11

Hans Eyseneck

Answer 11

Psychological theories

Believed certain personality types more likely commit crime
Crave excitement + slow to learn of crimes bad consequences

Studied 700 soldiers
Identified (E, I) and (N, S)
• Extraversion/introversion: amount of stimulation person needs
• Neuroticism/stability: level of emotional stability

Eysenck’s theory predicts people who have E, N and psychotic (P) personalities are more likely to offend (difficult for them to learn to control immature impluses)

Question 12

Cognitive theories of crime

Answer 12

Theories argue mental processes (attitudes, beliefs, reasoning) shape our behaviour and how thought processes also effect emotion (trigger feelings of fear and anger)

Question 13

Criminal Personality Theory

Answer 13

Yochelson and Somehow (psychologists)
- long term study
- 240 make offenders
- idea that criminals prone to faulty thinking
- these thinking errors lead to commit crime
(lying, secretiveness, need for power, control, failure to understand other’s positions)

Question 14

Kohlbergs moral development theory

Answer 14

• argues conscience develops through stages from childhood to adulthood
• criminals stuck at ‘pre-conventional’ or pre moral level
• criminals moral understanding stuck at less mature level