AC2.2 Individualistic Theories Flashcards by Lauren Kelsey

What are the 3 ways that behaviour can be learnt?

Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Social learning theory

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What does Freud say are the 3 parts of the personality?

Id
Ego
Superego
In normal perso, all balance

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the Id?

Basic primitive part of our make-up
Instinctive part of personality
‘Principle of pleasure’
Wants to be satisfied + doesn’t tolerate delay

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the Ego?

Aware of both demands of Id + outside world
It makes decisions on this
‘Reality principle’
Develops through experience of dealing with world
Capability to think logically

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the Superego?

Develops later
Formed from experiences with authority figures and restrictions they give us
‘Morality principle’
Gives us guilt

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is classical conditioning?

Neutral stimulus = associated with particular response

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is operant conditioning?

Behaviour = learnt through consequences of a particular behaviour

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Explain John Joseph Joubert’s criminal behaviour using classical conditioning

Serial killer, young boys
He remembered as teenager masturbating to fantasies of strangling boys in underwear
Age 13, stabbed a young girl with pencil
Felt sexually stimulated when she cried
Executed in 1996

NS = Murder fantasies/ others pain
US = Masturbating
UR = Sexual pleasure
Murder = sexual pleasure

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Define positive reinforcement

Receiving reward when certain behaviour = performed

Leads to increase in desired behaviour

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Define negative reinforcement

Removal of something unpleasant (fear, pain)

Leads to increase in behaviour

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What does punishment do to a behaviour?

Decreases it

= unpleasant consequence of behaviour

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What does the SLT suggest about criminal behaviour?

Learnt through observing + imitating role model

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How is behaviour ‘learnt’ through the SLT?

Individual pays attention to behaviour + retains a memory of it (role model)
If physically capable + motivated, replicate behaviour
Motivation may come from role model being rewarded for behaviour/ reinforced for behaviour (vicarious reinforcement)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Give a real life examples of when children have committed criminal acts through SLT?

James Bulgar case in 1993 - 2 boys (age 10) had watched Childs play 3 + Chuckie
2 boys tortured + murdered James by imitating scenes they’d watched

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Give 2 examples of copycat killers

Andrew Conley ID with Dexter, killed younger brother

2. Eddie Seda, killed Vs in similar way to Zodiac killer (20 years after)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How does Bandura’s Bobo doll support the SLT?

It demonstrates how children learn violent behaviour by observing + imitating role models

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the 2 strengths of the SLT?

Has supporting evidence (Bandura)

2. Led to practical applications (x2)

What are the 2 practical application of the SLT?

Suggests that by introducing +ve role models + using reinforcement, help rehabilitate offenders
Contribute to watershed + rating certificates on films/ video games

What is a weakness of the SLT?

Can’t explain opportunistic crimes; doesn’t involve seeing someone produce behaviour first
Only accounts for some crimes

Is the SLT a full explanation of criminal behaviour?

Why?

No
Watch/ witness violent behaviour doesn’t mean they = going to imitate it
Other factors involved: upbringing, personal experience etc.
These can affect if behaviour = imitated/ not
Could be that some people = more vulnerable to effects of witnessing criminal/ violent acts

What are the 3 dimensions that Eysenck measures personality across?

Introversion/ Extraversion (E)
Neuroticism (N)/ Stability
Psychoticism (P)

Criminal personality = score highly on E, N + P

What is Eysenck’s view on the personality?

Personality traits = biological in origin
Determined by type of nervous system inherited
- Criminal behaviour = innate

What is a high extraversion personality?

Under active nervous system

Constantly seeking excitement, stimulation + risk beh

What is a high neuroticism personality?

Nervous
Jumpy
Over-anxious
Unpredictable

What is a high psychoticism personality?

Cold Unemotional Prone to aggression

What are the 3 weaknesses of Eysenck's theory?

1. Cultural bias 2. Biased samples 3. Idea that all criminal behaviour can be explained by a single personality type

What is a strength of Eysenck's theory?

Supporting evidence Eysenck + Eysenck (1977) Compared 2070 male prisoners E,N,P scores with 2422 controls Across all age groups, prisoners recorded higher scores than the controls

Who argued that Eysenck's research has a cultural bias?

Bartol + Holanchok (1979) | Found Hispanic + African-American high security prisoners = less extraverted than a control group

How did Digman (1990) criticise Eysenck's theory?

Developed a 5 Factor Model Suggests = additional dimensions alongside E+N Openness, agreeableness + conscientiousness Multiple combinations = available so a high E+N score doesn't mean that offending = inevitable

How is Eysenck's sample biased?

The supporting research only looks at criminals who have been caught Those who avoid detection may have different personality types

What part of the personality does Freud argue is responsible for criminal behaviour?

Superego If doesn't develop properly + = inadequate of deficient then criminal behaviour may occur Id = given 'free reign'

How does a weak superego develop? | What can happen as a result?

If same-sex parent = absent during phallic stage, child can't develop fully formed superego Makes criminal behaviour more likely - id = dominant

How does a deviant superego develop? | What could this result in?

If superego the child internalises has immoral/ deviant values this would lead to criminal behaviour

What could result form a harsh superego?

Excessively harsh superego, individual = overcome with G + anxiety, drive to criminal acts IOT satisfy superego's desire for punishment OR, might prevent person form expressing any antisocial impulses Build up in unconscious If superego prevents this, aggression/ sexual desire = build up over time until it becomes too strong, overwhelm ego - expressed suddenly + violently (rape, murder)

What is a criticism of the weak superego argument posed by Freud?

= little evidence children raised without same sex parent = less law-abiding as adults Contradicts weak superego argument

What is a criticism of the deviant superego argument?

If children = raised by criminal parents go onto commit crimes themselves, may due to influence of genes/ socialisation rather than the formation of a deviant superego

What is a criticism of the harsh superego argument?

Most offenders - great lengths hide crimes, opposing claim that criminal behaviour reflects unconscious desire to be punished

How is Freud's theory gender biased?

Suggests girls develop weaker superegos Don't experience castration anxiety, less motivated to identify with mothers than boys = with fathers However males = more likely than females to be convicted of crimes, challenging this idea

What does Freud predict about a criminals upbringing?

Come from unstable homes May have suffered traumatic experiences as child (sexual/ physical abuse) Supported by findings of Currie + Tekin (2006), Widom + Maxfield (2001)

What did Currie + Tekin (2006) find in relation to an offenders childhood?

Found child abuse/neglect doubles probability of engaging in many types of crimes Sexual abuse has largest -ve effects Probability of engaging in crime increases with experience of multiple forms of maltreatment Supporting Freud's prediction about offenders childhood

What did Widom + Maxfield (2001) find in relation to an offenders childhood?

Found being abused/ neglected as a child increases likelihood of being arrested: - as a juvenile by 59% - as an adult y 28% - for a violent crime by 30% Supports Freud's prediction about offenders childhood

What are 2 pieces of supporting evidence for Freud's predictions about an offenders childhood?

1. Currie + Tekin (2006) | 2. Widom + Maxfield (2001)