AC2.2 Individualistic Theories Flashcards
Behavioural learning theory
- behaviours are acquired through conditioning
- conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment - response to stimuli shape behaviour
- positive reinforcement = good behaviour is rewarded so is repeated
Skinners rats study
- Rats everywhere in box - no pellets
- When rats were in the half with lever, occasional pellets were dropped - rats stayed
- Only received pellets if lever is touched - rats stay closer to lever
- Rats pressed lever on purpose - lever is associated with reward
- Skinner concluded that rats could be conditioned by positive reinforcement (operant conditioning)
- theoretically works for criminal behaviour. If rewarded, will be repeated
Negative reinforcement
- a reward for a behaviour which takes away something negative
- the behaviour will be repeated
- e.g smoking removes cravings, so is repeated
Skinners rats evaluation
Weakness
- doesn’t consider freedom of choice, own thought, decision making
- rats may pull lever due to their own thought, not conditioning
Strength
- study is scientifically tested
- can be repeated to get credible results
Psychodynamic theory
- Sigmund Freud
- human behaviour is governed by processes in the mind
- the mind is in 3 parts:
conscious
- everything that we are aware of
- we can rationally think and talk about
preconscious
- ordinary memories
- not always consciously aware of, but can be retrieved when needed
Unconscious
- repressed traumatic memories from childhood which are outside our conscious awareness
- influences our conscious thought and can lead to personality disorders and criminal behaviour
Psyche theory
- Sigmund Freud
- behaviour is a result of interactions between the 3 components of a personality
Id
- pleasure principle
- selfish, impulsive
Ego
- reality principle
- controls id and superego
Superego
- morality principle
- sensitive, careful
Types of psyche
Healthy psyche
- ego is in control
- balance of id and superego
Neurotic (anxious) psyche
- ego fails to balance demands
- super ego is in control
- high moral standards cause psychological disorders:
- anxiety, guilt, etc
Psychotic psyche
- id is in control
- leads to violence and criminal behaviour
- linked to repressed traumatic memories stored in the Unconscious
Freud evaluation
Weakness
- cannot be scientifically tested
- mind/memories can’t be physically experimented on or observed
- no evidence so reduces credibility
Strength
- theory underpins today’s thinking about dealing with trauma
- psychoanalysis therapy is based of psychodynamic theory - treats criminals by dealing with trauma
- psychoanalysis theory is recognised as valid treatment, supports the theory
Social learning theory
- Albert Bandura
- we learn through modelling (copying)
- we model behaviours through observations of others
Bobo doll study
- 72 young children, 3 groups
- Observed adults playing aggressively
- Observed adults playing calmly
- No adults Observed (control group)
Results
- behaviour is learned through observation
- children who Observed aggressive adults had aggressive responses
- children who Observed calm adults had calm responses
- children who had no adults ignored the doll
Factors that affect modelling
Vicarious consequences - if model was punished, behaviour was less likely to be copied
external motivation - operant conditioning once behaviour was copied - rewarded = repeated
self-reinforcement - behaviour is repeated if it satisfies internal needs - e.g fun/exciting
Social learning theory evaluation
Strengths
- Variables were controlled, e.g gender of model and time of observation, non-biased results
- Experiment can be replicated, standardised procedures allow repeatability, results can be tested
Weakness
- Not ethical, exposes children to frightening scenarios, encourages violence
- Results aren’t valid, not a natural setting so behaviour isn’t natural
Differential association theory
- Sunderland, 1939
- people learn to become offenders through environment and interactions with others
- learn values, methods and motives for criminal behaviour
- teaches that crime is beneficial
- reoffending rates in UK are 64%
Prisons are ‘universities of crime’ - prisoners associate with eschother and become worse criminals
Young offenders under 21 are held in separate prisons to prevent learning from experienced criminals
Psychological - Eysneck personality theory
- questionnaire to measure personalty traits
- extroverts and Neurotic are most likely to be criminal
Introvert - reserved, in control of emotions
Extrovert - sociable, bored easily/need external stimulation, impulsive
Neurotic - anxious, irrational, moody
psychotic - cruel, solitary misfit, lack empathy
Evaluation of Eysneck personality theory
Weaknesses
- Little support for a link between personality type and criminality, is an association between psychoticism and crime but not for extraversion and neuroticism, values are too vague/meaningless
- Not scientific, questionnaire relys on honest/accurate answers, if repeated will get different results depending on mood
Strengths
- Correlation between high score and offenders, but others factors influence criminality
- Personality testing helps with early intervention, identifying personalities so support can be given, prevents crime
Informal and formal policies
informal
- programs that are not made by government / not law
- primary prevention - put in place before crime occurs
- carried out in schools, home, etc
- aim to educate and encourage good behaviour
formal
- laws made by the government
- secondary prevention - put in place after crime occurs
- aim to change behaviour from criminal to non-offending
