AC2.2 Individualistic theories of criminality Flashcards
What do behaviourists in the learning theory suggest about criminality?
No-one is born with criminal or violent tendencies but learn the behaviour through experiences
What is one way criminal behaviour can be learnt in the learning theory?
Through classical conditioning, for example many serial kilers are sexually motivated and experience pleasure through the act of murder. Often fantasies of violence are paired with masturbation which leads to an association between sexual pleasure and killing e.g. John Joseph Joubert masturbated to fantacies of stabbing boys and later killed 3 young boys
How can criminality be learned through operant conditioning?
Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Punishment
Why does the social learning theory believe you learn criminal behaviour?
Through observation and imitation - ARRM - vicarious reinforcement
What have researchers linked violent media with in SLT?
Violent crime in teenagers and children - James Bulger 1993 where they imitated a scene from Childs Play 3
What is an example of SLT and crimes?
Copycat crimes - Jack the Ripper - following films etc
What are 2 strengths of learning theories?
Bobo doll study shows with aggression
Theory has led to practical applications - introducing positive role models and using reinforcement can held rehabilitate offenders
What are 2 weaknesses of learning theories?
Opportunistic crimes cannot be explained by SLT as they haven’t seen someone produce the behaviour first
Just because someone sees violence doesn’t mean they’ll imitate it - range of upbringing and personal factors stop people
What is Eysenck’s criminal personality theory?
Personality can be measured across 3 dimenstions I/E, N/S, P
High on all 3 - criminal
What is one strength of Eysenck’s theory?
Eysenck and Eysenck 1977 comparing 2070 male prisoners to 2422 controls and found prisoners across all ages had higher scores on EPI
What are 3 weaknesses of Eysenck’s theory?
Digman 1990 added different dimensions as overly simplistic
Cultural bias - Bartol and Holanchock 1979 controls higher
Biased samples as only looks at criminals who have been caught - people who avoid may have different personality types
What does Freud believe in regards to criminality?
Personality ID, Ego, Superego
If superego doesn’t develop properly then criminal behaviour may occur because the ID is given ‘free reign’
What are the 3 types of superego by Freud?
Weak - no identification with same sex parent during phallic stage so morals not learnt and not fully formed
Deviant - child internalizes with deviant morals from same sex parent
Harsh - anti-social impulses built up in unconcious are not expressed so aggression builds up over time and overwhelms the ego
What are 2 strengths of Freud’s theory?
Currie and Tekin 2006 found child abuse and neglect doubles probability of being involved in crime like Freud suggested
Widom and Maxfield 2001 found this abuse increases likelihood of arrest when young by 59% and as an adult by 28%
What are 3 weaknesses of Freud’s theory?
Little evidence no same sex parent leads to being less law-abiding, also it may be due to other factors like socialization
Most people go to great lengths to hide their crimes so critcises idea of over-harsh superego
Theories are gender bias - females develop weaker superego’s as do not experience castration anxiety so less moral, however evidence shows boys significantly more likely to commit crimes
