AC2.2 Individualistic theories Flashcards
What is the social learning theory?
Albert Bandura believed much of our behavior is learned from experience.
What are individuals who are observed known as?
Models
What are the four cognitive stages, known as mediational processes, when observing models?
- Attention
- Retention
- Reproduction
- Motivation
How is motivation achieved? (social learning theory)
- Identification ( Looking up to them)
- Vicarious reinforcement ( If models are rewarded)
Describe Bandura’s social learning method.
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.
What were the results of the Banduras Bobo experiment?
- 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.
Why is supporting evidence a strength of social learning theory?
Provides evidence for imitation of violent behavior and explains violent offenders. Theory is reliable
Why is ‘Theory can explain a range of crimes’ a strength of social learning theory?
Can explain a range from tax evasion to violence as any crime can be imitated from a model therefore it is a complete explanation.
Why are alternatives a weakness of social learning theory?
Ignores biological effects on criminal behavior, for example, genes. Incomplete explanation.
Why is methodology a weakness of social learning theory?
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.
Why are ethical implications a weakness of social learning theory?
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.
What are the psychodynamic explanations?
Freud believed behavior was influenced by the unconscious. State events in our childhood have a great influence on our lives, shaping our personality.
What are the parts of the tripartite personality?
- id
- superego
- ego
What is the id?
The unconscious.
Present from birth is known as the ‘pleasure principle’ as it is the blind desire to satisfy urges.
What is the superego?
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.
What is the ego?
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.
What does Blackburn believe crime is caused by?
A deficient superego
What are the three types of deficient Superego?
- Weak
- Deviant
- Overly harsh
Describe the weak Superego
No same-sex parent means no internalization of morals so id is more powerful leading to crime.
Describe the deviant superego.
Criminal same-sex parent so internalizes deviant morals and commit crime due to a lack of guilt
Describe the overly harsh superego.
Comes from overly harsh parenting so internalized morals are so strong, you always feel guilt. commit crime to be punished and therefore reducing guilt.
Why is practical application a strength of psychodynamic theory?
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.
Why is ‘ignoring biology’ a weakness of psychodynamic theories?
Incomplete explanation as there are other factors such as genes
Why is methodology a weakness of psychodynamic theories?
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.
Why are ethical implications a weakness of psychodynamic theories?
Those with criminals or harsh parents will be labeled and discriminated against.
Those with criminal children will be blamed.
What are psychological theories? (Eysenck)
Argues criminality is the result of a particular personality type
What are the four personality types?
- Sanguine
- Phlegmatic
- Melancholic
- Choleric
Which is the criminal personality?
Choleric
What are the characteristics of a choleric personality?
- High neuroticism and extraversion
- Active
- Aggressive
What are the biological factors in Eysenk’s theory?
- High extraversion= Nervous system is understimulated. The brain requires more stimulation so crime is committed for a thrill-seeking experience.
What are the social factors in Eysenk’s theory?
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.
What third dimension did Eysenk add?
Psychotism
Describe psychotism.
Solitary misfits who are cruel, insensitive and aggressive
Why is supporting evidence a strength of Eysenk?
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
Why is ‘researcher bias’ a counter for Eysenk?
Different researcher found offenders scored highly on P measures but not always on E and N
Why is ‘considers all factors’ a strength of Eysenk?
Considers psychological, biological, and sociological factors so it is a complete explanation.
Why is methodology a weakness of Eysenk?
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.
Why is correlational a weakness of Eysenk?
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.
Describe psychodynamic policies.
Psychoanalysis aims to access the unconscious and resolve conflict and trauma.
Involves dream analysis, ink blot, and hypnosis.
Does psychoanalysis work?
Least favoured as it is not very effective (limited evidence)
Costly
Ethical issues- They get to define what is ‘normal’
What is the policy influenced by social learning theory?
- 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
Does behavior modification work?
Effective in prisons but not once they leave
What is the policy influenced by Eysenk’s psychological theory?
- 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.
Does aversion therapy work?
Limited evidence and unethical
