AC2.2 Individualistic theories

Question 1

What is the social learning theory?

Answer 1

Albert Bandura believed much of our behavior is learned from experience.

Question 2

What are individuals who are observed known as?

Answer 2

Models

Question 3

What are the four cognitive stages, known as mediational processes, when observing models?

Answer 3

• Attention
• Retention
• Reproduction
• Motivation

Question 4

How is motivation achieved? (social learning theory)

Answer 4

• Identification ( Looking up to them)
• Vicarious reinforcement ( If models are rewarded)

Question 5

Describe Bandura’s social learning method.

Answer 5

Children watched a video of an adult model interacting with a Bobo doll. They were then given the opportunity to play with the same doll.

Question 6

What were the results of the Banduras Bobo experiment?

Answer 6

• Those who observed the aggressive model made more aggressive responses
• Boys were more likely to imitate same-sex models
• Boys imitated more physically aggressive acts than girls.

Question 7

Why is supporting evidence a strength of social learning theory?

Answer 7

Provides evidence for imitation of violent behavior and explains violent offenders. Theory is reliable

Question 8

Why is ‘Theory can explain a range of crimes’ a strength of social learning theory?

Answer 8

Can explain a range from tax evasion to violence as any crime can be imitated from a model therefore it is a complete explanation.

Question 9

Why are alternatives a weakness of social learning theory?

Answer 9

Ignores biological effects on criminal behavior, for example, genes. Incomplete explanation.

Question 10

Why is methodology a weakness of social learning theory?

Answer 10

Research lacks ecological validity as all research was done in a lab setting. The highly controlled setting may have caused the children to think it was a game.

Question 11

Why are ethical implications a weakness of social learning theory?

Answer 11

Could be argued to stereotype people from ‘bad’ backgrounds as potential criminals can lead to labeling and discrimination.
Unfair as there are many individual differences that make some people more likely to be labeled criminals.

Question 12

What are the psychodynamic explanations?

Answer 12

Freud believed behavior was influenced by the unconscious. State events in our childhood have a great influence on our lives, shaping our personality.

Question 13

What are the parts of the tripartite personality?

Answer 13

• id
• superego
• ego

Question 14

What is the id?

Answer 14

The unconscious.
Present from birth is known as the ‘pleasure principle’ as it is the blind desire to satisfy urges.

Question 15

What is the superego?

Answer 15

The subconscious.
Interanalises its parent’s ideas of right and wrong (same sex).
Known as the ‘morality principle’ as it contains moral values learned from parents creating guilt.

Question 16

What is the ego?

Answer 16

The conscious.
Develops after the superego and is known as the ‘reality principle’ as it balances conflict between id and superego. Learns from experience and satisfies both.

Question 17

What does Blackburn believe crime is caused by?

Answer 17

A deficient superego

Question 18

What are the three types of deficient Superego?

Answer 18

• Weak
• Deviant
• Overly harsh

Question 19

Describe the weak Superego

Answer 19

No same-sex parent means no internalization of morals so id is more powerful leading to crime.

Question 20

Describe the deviant superego.

Answer 20

Criminal same-sex parent so internalizes deviant morals and commit crime due to a lack of guilt

Question 21

Describe the overly harsh superego.

Answer 21

Comes from overly harsh parenting so internalized morals are so strong, you always feel guilt. commit crime to be punished and therefore reducing guilt.

Question 22

Why is practical application a strength of psychodynamic theory?

Answer 22

Brought a new form of therapy: psychoanalysis which allows us to access the unconscious. This could be used to help people with criminal tendencies, reducing crime.

Question 23

Why is ‘ignoring biology’ a weakness of psychodynamic theories?

Answer 23

Incomplete explanation as there are other factors such as genes

Question 24

Why is methodology a weakness of psychodynamic theories?

Answer 24

Based on case studies so can not be applied to everyone. Frueds methods are highly subjective (dream analysis) so not scientific.
Theory can’t be proved right or wrong because the unconscious can not be accessed.

Question 25

Why are ethical implications a weakness of psychodynamic theories?

Answer 25

Those with criminals or harsh parents will be labeled and discriminated against.
Those with criminal children will be blamed.

Question 26

What are psychological theories? (Eysenck)

Answer 26

Argues criminality is the result of a particular personality type

Question 27

What are the four personality types?

Answer 27

• Sanguine
• Phlegmatic
• Melancholic
• Choleric

Question 28

Which is the criminal personality?

Answer 28

Choleric

Question 29

What are the characteristics of a choleric personality?

Answer 29

• High neuroticism and extraversion
• Active
• Aggressive

Question 30

What are the biological factors in Eysenk’s theory?

Answer 30

• High extraversion= Nervous system is understimulated. The brain requires more stimulation so crime is committed for a thrill-seeking experience.

Question 31

What are the social factors in Eysenk’s theory?

Answer 31

Highly neurotic- This makes them hard to condition as they always feel anxious, when they are punished, they feel no extra anxiety so commit crimes because they do not learn from punishment.

Question 32

What third dimension did Eysenk add?

Answer 32

Psychotism

Question 33

Describe psychotism.

Answer 33

Solitary misfits who are cruel, insensitive and aggressive

Question 34

Why is supporting evidence a strength of Eysenk?

Answer 34

Supports the role of psychoticism and neuroticism in criminality for both genders.
High scores were recorded for P and N for male offenders and found high extraversion for female offenders.
Theory is reliable

Question 35

Why is ‘researcher bias’ a counter for Eysenk?

Answer 35

Different researcher found offenders scored highly on P measures but not always on E and N

Question 36

Why is ‘considers all factors’ a strength of Eysenk?

Answer 36

Considers psychological, biological, and sociological factors so it is a complete explanation.

Question 37

Why is methodology a weakness of Eysenk?

Answer 37

Issues with EPQ as it assumes personality is stable when in reality it changes over situations. Also, it changes over time.
Also, social desirability bias means theory lacks validity.

Question 38

Why is correlational a weakness of Eysenk?

Answer 38

Explains a relationship between personality and crime but no cause-effect. Scientists suggest the relationship may be other way around. Extraversion may occur from crime.
Invalid explanation.

Question 39

Describe psychodynamic policies.

Answer 39

Psychoanalysis aims to access the unconscious and resolve conflict and trauma.
Involves dream analysis, ink blot, and hypnosis.

Question 40

Does psychoanalysis work?

Answer 40

Least favoured as it is not very effective (limited evidence)
Costly
Ethical issues- They get to define what is ‘normal’

Question 41

What is the policy influenced by social learning theory?

Answer 41

• Behaviour modification
  Token economy programme is used in some prisons. Positive reinforcement means the person repeats the behaviour.
  Steps:
  1) Draw list of desired behaviours
  2) Token is given to those who do this
  3) Prisoners can exchange this token for reward

Question 42

Does behavior modification work?

Answer 42

Effective in prisons but not once they leave

Question 43

What is the policy influenced by Eysenk’s psychological theory?

Answer 43

• Aversion therapy
  Punishments need to be severe to condition prisoners. A strong aversive stimulus is administered when they imagine the crime so they associate sickness with the crime.

Question 44

Does aversion therapy work?

Answer 44

Limited evidence and unethical