Biological Causes of Crime: Personality

Question 1

What does Eysenck’s (1977) personality theory combine in the explanation?

Answer 1

Biological and social factors.

Question 2

Explain how Eysenck combined biological and social factors.

Answer 2

He argued that personality is determined by genetic makeup but they exert their effects under the influence of environmental factors.

Question 3

How does the combination of biological and social factors relate to criminal behaviour?

Answer 3

Certain traits are more likely to involve anti-social behaviour due to being less susceptible to conditioning and so a violent disposition could be expressed due to stress from the environment in the form of a violent crime.

Question 4

Define ‘extrovert’.

Answer 4

Someone who is outgoing, sociable, and lively.

Question 5

What part of the CNS is responsible for extroversion and what does it do?

Answer 5

The ascending reticular activating system balances excitation and inhibits processes in order to maintain an optimum level of arousal.

Question 6

Using biological causes, explain why being an extrovert increases likelihood of becoming a criminal.

Answer 6

The ARAS is biased towards inhibition and so reduces the intensity of sensory stimulation, rendering them under-aroused, and so therefore they require more stimulation and so may commit crimes to make life more exciting.

Question 7

Define ‘neurotic’.

Answer 7

Someone who is unstable and may overreact.

Question 8

Using biological causes, explain why neuroticism links to criminality.

Answer 8

The sympathetic nervous system, found in the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the fight or flight response and so those who are neurotic react strongly to stressful situations and so may have aggressive outbursts leading to violent crimes.

Question 9

Define ‘psychoticism’.

Answer 9

Someone who lacks empathy and is manipulative.

Question 10

Using biological causes, explain why psychoticism links to criminality.

Answer 10

Increased levels of testosterone are related to psychotic episodes and low levels of monoamine oxidase (MAO) leading to lack of empathy and irregular expression/understanding of emotion may lead to not understanding pain caused to victims of crime.

Question 11

What is the most important social difference between extroverts and introverts that may result in criminality from one and not the other?

Answer 11

Introverts are easier to condition and so are more likely to be conditioned into obeying laws and know right from wrong.

Question 12

Summarise Eysenck’s personality theory and its explanation for criminal behaviour.

Answer 12

Extroverts - They seek thrill due to under-arousal of the ARAS as it favours inhibition of external stimulation and so can turn to crime like theft to gain the thrill needed
Neuroticism - Overreacting due to unstable response to fight/flight in sympathetic nervous system may lead to aggressive outbursts that can in turn lead to violent crimes
Psychoticism - Men are more likely to lack empathy due to higher testosterone levels which can lead to violent crimes from an episode or lowered MAO which leads to lack of empathy and so murder due to not understanding emotional implications on victims

Question 13

How does gender relate to Eysenck’s personality theory and crime?

Answer 13

If psychoticism relates to testosterone then people with a high P score would be men. Women also have testosterone in their bodies and so would also account for their criminality.

Question 14

Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 ‘evidence’ points.

Answer 14

P - Eysenck’s EPI supports
E - Found that criminals scored higher on E, N and P than non-criminals
E - This suggests that criminals exhibit these personality types more than non-criminals
P - Rushton et al (1981) supports
E - Found relationship between delinquency and extroversion and psychoticism
E - Providing evidence that these characteristics can lead to criminal behaviour

Question 15

Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 ‘how’ points.

Answer 15

P - Less reductionist
E - Eysenck considered both biological and environmental factors
E - Therefore it is the most comprehensive explanation of criminal behaviour
P - Rushton et al (1981)
E - Did not find a relationship between delinquency and neuroticism
E - This suggests that there are key differences between the 3 personality dimensions and questions credibility of Eysenck’s personality theory

Question 16

Are there any applications?

Answer 16

P - Yes
E - Suggested that underlying criminal tendencies are detectable in childhood
E - Therefore allowing interventions based on parenting or early treatment for delinquency to reduce criminal behaviour

Question 17

Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 ‘criticism’ points.

Answer 17

P - Low validity
E - Self-report data from questionnaire
E - Therefore problematic due to social desirability of prisoners as may want to be viewed in better light than they are in
P - Social learning theory rejects
E - Suggest that criminal behaviour can be learnt through observing role models engaging in criminal behaviours and so leading to them imitating this behaviour
E - Therefore suggesting that environmental factors may play a bigger role than Eysenck originally thought and so a more holistic explanation is need, one that include role models