Chapter 1 - Theories Of Offending Flashcards
What is a theory?
Plausible or scientifically acceptable set of principles
Name the 5 theories of offending
- Attachment theory
- Personality theory
- Social learning theory
- Lifestyle theory
- ICAP theory
What does the attachment theory state?
We have innate biological needs to maintain contact with PCG.
What does early maternal deprivation lead to?
Emotional detachment (cold)
Separation anxiety (emotional)
What does the attachment theory state about offenders?
Those separated at early stages are more likely to convict
What was found in terms of conviction rates and separation from PCG?
Those who lived with their mothers (father’s died) had lower conviction rates than those who lives with no relatives at all (highest conviction rates).
Shows a loving mother might be able to compensate.
Offenders tend to have what types of attachment?
Insecure, anxious and avoidant
What does the personality theory state?
Committing crimes was a rational, hedonistic act to strive towards pleasure
According to the Personality theory, what prevents us from committing crimes?
Conscience
What is a conscience?
A conditioned fear response depending on conditioning ability
What does behaviour depend on?
Consistency in behaviour - personality mediates between genetics and environment
What does the Personality theory say about the conditioning of offenders?
Poor conditioning ability - not built up strong enough consciences
What 3 dimensions did Eysenck find in personality?
High extroversion (E) High neuroticism (N) Psychoticism (P)
What is High E
High extroversion - low levels of cortical arousal
What is high N
High neuroticism - high resting levels of anxiety
What is P?
Psychoticism - traits typical of criminals (low empathy, impulsiveness)
What does SLT state?
Focuses on interaction between parent and child: actions that are rewarded are more frequent / actions punished should occur less
What does SLT state about offenders?
Parents fail to tell their children how to behave appropriately.
Coercive parenting.
Operant conditioning —> positive reinforcement —> observing and imitation
What are the 4 stages of social learning?
Attention
Retention
Motivation
Reproduction
What is the most important child rearing method in regards to offending?
Poor parental supervision
What type of parenting predicts offending?
Harsh/erratic and inconsistent discipline
What did Patterson develop to overcome ASB in children?
Parental management training
What does the Lifestyle Theory aim to do?
Explain the development of a criminal lifestyle
What are the 4 factors in developing a criminal lifestyle?
Social rule breaking
Self-indulgence
Irresponsibility
Interpersonal intrusiveness
What does Walters’ functional model explain?
How criminal lifestyle develops:
Hedonistic motivation
Excitement seeking
Desire for personal advantage
Defensive reactions of fears/threats
What does Walters’ change model explain?
How people give up criminal lifestyle.
Changes in self-concept
Taking responsibility
Increased confidence
Increase empathy
What are the 5 internal factors to stop offending (lifestyle theory)?
- Shifting from selfish to considerate
- Developing social values/behaviours
- Considerate to other members of the community
- Meaning given to life
What are the 4 processss of cognitive transformation (lifestyle theory)?
- Must be open to change
- Expose themselves to social interactions
- Create new pro social identity
- Shift perception of criminal lifestyle
What does ICAP stand for
Integrated cognitive antisocial potential
What is ICAP based on?
Antisocial potential
Early risk factors increase AP
What does AP depend on for form ASB?
Cognitive processes:
Cognition
Victims
Opportunity
What does LT AP depend on?
Impulsiveness
Modelling
Socialisation processes
Life events
What is the most important risk factor for LT AP?
Hyperactivity - impulsivity - attention deficit
What are ST AP factors?
Motivating factors
Situational factors
What is psychopathy?
Personality disorder - complete disregard for other and lack of behavioural controls.
Unable to express remorse/guilt
Lack of anxiety
What is used to measure psychopathy?
PCL-R (Hare, 2003)
What is the UK threshold for psychopathy
< 30
What does Factor 1 state in PCLR
Interpersonal features (glibness, grandiose, manipulative)
Affective features (lack of remorse, failure to accept responsibility)
What does factor 2 state in PCLR?
Lifestyle features (prone to boredom)
Antisocial features (ASB early on)
What 2 types of psychopathy are there?
Primary - low anxiety (factor 1)
Secondary - high anxiety (factor 2)
What is cognitive empathy?
Ability to take another person’s perspective (breakdown - Autism)
What is affective empathy?
Ability to feel what another person is feeling (breakdown - psychopath)
What are the two types of aggression
Hot/ reactive (secondary)
Cold/ instrumental (primary)
What is the neuropeptide related to psychopathy
Oxytocin
What does increasing oxytocin do?
Resulting in more prosocial (but also ASB) behaviours
