AC2.2 Individualistic theories of criminality

Question 1

Describe Freuds psychoanalysis theory
of criminality

Answer 1

This theory states that early childhood experiences determine our personality + future behaviour. ‘The child is father to the man’.

Question 2

What were the 3 parts of the human personality that Freud found ?

describe them

Answer 2

Id, Ego, Supergo
Ego - rational + sensible control
Behaviour is result of struggle between id (desire) and superego (conscience)
Driven by reality principle where ego learns from experience of real world
Id - selfish and animalistic
Governed by pleasure principle
Superego - moral conscience
Moral rules - learnt through primary socialisation
If we act against superego we are punished

Question 3

What does Freud say about a weak developed super ego?

Answer 3

the individual will not feel guilty about acting on the id’s commands

Question 4

What does Freud say about a unforgiving super ego?

Answer 4

the individual will feel excessively guilty and actively seek punishment, this may be reoccuring

Question 5

What does Freud say about a deviant superego?

Answer 5

child may have been successfully socialised but into a deviant moral code - may have internalised criminal values and so will not feel guilty for his criminal actions

Question 6

Strengths of Psychoanalysis theories of criminality

Answer 6

Points to importance of early socialisation + effects of families

Question 7

Weaknesses of Psychoanalysis theories of criminality

Answer 7

Critics doubt the existence of unconscious mind as how can it be proven if its unconscious
Psychoanalytic explanations are unscientific and subjective - rely on accepting claims that they can see into the workings of an individual’s unconscious mind to discover their inner conflicts + motivations

Question 8

What is the id (Freud)?

Answer 8

Id - selfish and animalistic
Governed by pleasure principle
desires

Question 9

What is the ego(Freud)

Answer 9

Ego - rational + sensible control
Behaviour is result of struggle between id (desire) and superego (conscience)
Driven by reality principle where ego learns from experience of real world

Question 10

What is the superego (Freud)

Answer 10

Superego - moral conscience
Moral rules - learnt through primary socialisation
If we act against superego we are punished

Question 11

Describe Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory - psycho dynamic

Answer 11

A child must have a close relationship with their primary caregiver (mother) from birth to age 5 to develop normally

If this attachment is broken even for a short amount of time it can lead the child to be unable to form relationships with others as this is the internal working model on which they base all future relationships

this can lead to affectionless psychopathy and so criminal behaviour

Question 12

What does Bowlby base his theory on

Answer 12

Study on 44 juveniles, 39% suffered maternal deprivation

Question 13

Strengths of Bowlbys theory

Answer 13

Shows the need to study a parent-child bond as a cause of criminality

Question 14

Weaknesses of Bowlbys theory (maternal deprivation)

Answer 14

Retrospective study - relied on active memeory recall between a child and mother from both parties - tricky as emotive events
Deprivation cannot be the only cause of crime as only 39% suffered deprivation
Bowlbys own later study found that 0/60 children he studied aged 0-5 suffered affectionless sympahty after being seperated from mothers

Question 15

Describe psychological theories of criminality - Eysencks personalty theory

Answer 15

believed different types of personality + criminality is result of diff persoanlity types

Personality has two dimensions:
Extraversion vs introversion (E scale)
Neuroticism versus emotional stability (N scale)

Conditioning - we learn through it BUT some individuals inherit a nervous system that causes them to develop a criminal personality

Question 16

eysenck’s personality theory
What personality type did a criminal have ? and how did this lead to criminalitty

Answer 16

Extraverted neurotic

Extraverts seek stimulation, leading to rule breaking, while neurotics anxiety prevents them learning from punishment.

Question 17

Strenghts of Eysenck’s personality theory

Answer 17

It is useful in predicting measurable tendencies as a cause of crime

Question 18

Weakness of Eysencks personality theory

Answer 18

Farringdon - studies showed prisoners are neurotic + psychotic but not extraverted
Evidence shows correlation between personality + crime, but not personality to be the cause of crime - prison may cause personalities
He used self report studies - dishonest ?

Question 19

Desribe learning theories of criminality - Sutherland differential association theory

Answer 19

Criminal behaviour is learnt in family + peer group - this is the result of two factors:
Imitation and learning attitudes

Question 20

sutherlands differential ascociation theoyr - Define imitation and learning attidues

Imitation of criminal acts and learned attitudes of the law

Answer 20

Imitation of criminal acts: individuals can acquire criminal skills and techniques by observing those around them
Learned attitudes: socialisation within the group exposes the individual to attitudes and values about the law, if the individual internalises more unfavourable than favourable attitudes then they are more likely to become a criminal

Question 21

What did sutherlands theory suggest about rehabilitation

Answer 21

its possible - Criminal attitudes can be learned + unlearned therefore criminals can be rehabilitated

Question 22

Strenghts of Sutherlands theory

Answer 22

Crime runs in family supports theory
Matthews - found juvenile delinquents are more likely to have friends who commit antisocial acts - supporting the theory that peer groups have a role in criminality
Attidues of work groups can normalise crime

Question 23

Weaknesses of Sutherlands theory

Answer 23

Not everyone exposed to criminal influences becomes criminal - may learn how to comitt crime but neveer do

Question 24

Describe BF SKinners operant learning theory

Answer 24

This theory states that if a particular behaviour results in a desirable outcome (reinforcement) it is likely to be repeated but if it results in an undesirable outcome (punishment) it is unlikely to be repeated.

Question 25

Strengths of Skinners operant learning theory

Answer 25

Skinners study of animals show that they learn from reinforcement - human learning is of this kind also - this can be applied ot offending - Jeffrey states that if crime leads to more rewarding outcomes for individuals - more likely to offend

Question 26

Weaknesses of Skinners operant learning theory

Answer 26

Based on study of animals - not adequate
Theory ignores internal mental processes - explains criminal behavior in terms of punishment + rewards
Jumans have free will and can choose their own course of action
Doesnt take into account we are social beings - learn from experience of others

Question 27

Describe Banduras social learning theory

Answer 27

We learn our behaviour from models - we behave based on how we see them behaving - we imitate models’ behaviour if they are of a higher status to us
If model’s behaviour is rewarded rather than punished we are more likely to imitate them

Question 28

What was Banduras study and what were the results

Answer 28

Children are divided into three groups
1Saw a version of film where model was rewarded with praise
2Saw version in which the model was punished
3Control group - saw behaviour not rewarded or punished

Group 1 - violent after seeing reward for beating up a doll
Group 2 - least likely to imitate the model as had seen punishment
Group 3 - also imitating of the model but less so as no reward
Imitate behaviour mainly based on consequences

Question 29

Strengths of Banduras social learning theory

Answer 29

Unlike Skinner - Bandura takes into account we are social beings - learn from experience of others
Shows importance of role models in learning deviant behaviour

Question 30

Weaknesses of Banduras social learning theory

Answer 30

Based on laboratory studies - artificial settings - not valid for real life
Ignores freedom of choice + also conflicts with legal view of crime
Not all observed behavior is easy to imitate

Question 31

Describe what cognition is

Answer 31

Cognition refers to thinking and mental processes such as attitudes, beliefs, reasoning, problem-solving, decision-making, self-concept and how we interpret the world around us
Argues that these mental processes shape our behaviour e.g how we interpret a situation affects how we respond to it
Thought processes also affect our emotions - if we interpret a situation as threatening it may trigger feelings of fear and anger

Question 32

What does Yochelson + Samenows criminal personaity theory state and desribe it (5 points)

cognitive theory

Answer 32

This theory sees criminality as the result of thinking errors and CRIMINALS ARE PRONE TO FAULTY THINKING

Roots of criminality lie in the way people think and make their decisions
Criminals think and act differently than other people - even from a very young age
Criminals are by nature: irresponsible, impulsive self-centred and driven by fear and anger
Deterministic explanations of crime result from believing the criminal who is seeking sympathy
Crime occurs because the criminal wills it or chooses it and it is this choice they make that rehabilitation must deal with

Question 33

Strengths of yochelson+ samenow
criminal personality theory

Answer 33

Has lead to other research - PICTS (Psychological inventory of criminal thinking styles) - questionnaire aimed at revealing whether someone shoes criminal thought patterns
Succeful treatments habe been developed based on though processes being the cause of crime - Cognitive behavioural therapy

Question 34

Weaknesses of yochelson + samenow
criminal personality theory

Answer 34

This theory sees criminality as the result of thinking errors - criminals are prone to faulty thinking

Yochelson + Samenow did not use a control group of non criminals to see if ‘normal’ people also make the same thinking errors
Sample was unrepsentative - no women + most of the men had been found insane + sent to psychiatric hospital YET they claim ALL offenders share the same thinking erroes
There was a high sample attrition ( drop out rate ) - only 30 left at the end

Question 35

Describe Kohlbergs moral development theory

Answer 35

Theory of how we develop our moral thinking - as such it is potentially relevant to understanding criminals thinking - argues criminals stuck at an immature stage of moral development unable to make correct moral choices which leads to criminal behaviour

Kohlberg argues that our ideas of right and wrong develop through a series of levels and stages from childhood to adulthood
SUGGESTS - criminals’ moral development is stuck at a less mature level then everyone else - likely to think in terms of whether their actions will lead to a reward or punishment rather than how it may effect others

Question 36

Describe the three stages of morality

Answer 36

Level 1 pre morality -
Punishment and obedience orientation - Doing what is right because of fear or punishments
Hedonistic orientation - Doing what is right for personal gain, perhaps a rewards

Level 2 Conventional morality -
interpersonal concordance orientation - Doing what is right according to the majority
law and order orientation - Doing what is right because it is your duty and helps society. Laws must be obeyed for the common good

Level 3 post conventional morality
social contract or legalistic orientation - Doing what is morally right even if it against the law because the law is too restrictive
Universal Ethical Principles orientations - Doing what is right because of our inner conscience which has absorbed the principle of justice, equality and sacredness of human life.

Question 37

Strengths of Kohlbergs moral development theory

Answer 37

Studies show delinquents are more likely to have immature moral development as the theory predicts
Thornton + Reid found that the theory to be truer for crimes such as theft and robbery - which involve reasoning - NOT for violent crimes - often impulsive

Question 38

weaknesses of Kohlbergs moral development theory

Answer 38

Thornton + Reid found that the theory to be less true for violent crimes - often impulsive and don’t involve reasoning

Question 39

What are the general criticisms of individualistic theories

Answer 39

Artificiality - researchers often use laboratory experiments but how someone behaves in real life is not reflected
Sample bias - researchers often use studies of convicted criminals, but these may not be representative or the criminals who got away - so they are not a sound bias for the generalising about all criminals