Chapter 5: Trait Theory Flashcards
What is Trait Theory
Criminality is a product of abnormal biological and/or psychological traits
Development of trait theory
Sociobiology Theory
Biological and genetic conditions affect how social behaviours are learned/perceived
Explains who some commit crime, and others do not
Contemporary Trait Theory
Every offender physically and mentally unique
no single attribute explains criminality
Crime happens when personal traits and environmental factors interact in certain ways
Eviromental stimuli can either support or suppress antisocial acts
Biological Trait Theories
Focus on bio conditions that control behaviour
1. biochemcial - inadequate diet of minerals/chemicals can lead to various mental issues
-hormonal influences
-premenstrual syndrome
environmental contaminants (food dyes and art. colours and flavours)
2. neurophysiological
-ADHD
-FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder)
-Acquired Brain injury
Brain chemistry- abnormal levels of var. chemicals associated with aggression
-arousal therapy
3. genetic
-XYY (supermale) - yeah, no
-parental deviance- link between parental criminality and child’s crime
-twin behaviour - hard to determine
-adoption studies
4. evolutionary
-humans traits that produce violence advanced by evolution. impulsive, risk taking males fathered more children
-cheater theory - some men have genes that incline towards low parental involvement
Psychological Trait theories
slide 27 because im too lazy to write it out right now
Psychodynmaic Perspective
Freud
personality controlled by uncon mental processes
- id - demand immediate gratification
- ego - balances conflicting needs of id and superego
- superego - repository of cultural standards
Psychodynamics of criminal behaviour
offender is aggressive, frustraed person influenced by childhood events
weak ego seen as immatureity, poor spocial skills and dependence on others
Define: Latent Delinquency
Psychological predisposition to commit antisocial acts because of id dominated personality
Describe Behabiour Theory
Actions developed through learning experiences
-people alter their behaviour according to other’s reactions
crimes are a learned response to life situations and do not necessarily represent abnormality or moral immaturity
Describe Social Learning Theory
Based on principles or operant and classical conditioning
People learn to be aggressive by observing others acting in similar manner to achieve goals or be rewards for violent acts
What is Behavioral Modeling
The process of learning behaviour by watching others.
It can be modelled by
family members
Other influential people
mass media
What four factors does Social learning Theory advance?
Four factors that may cause aggressive or violent behaviors
- event that heightens arousal
- aggressive skills
- expected outcomes
- consistency of behaviour with values
Describe cognitive theory
Focus on mental processes- how people perceive and mentally represent their world
Explain Information-processing theory
How people process, store, encode, retrieve and manipulate info to make decisions and solve problems
What is personality?
Stable patterns of behaviour that distinguish one person from another
What two personality traits are associated with antisocial behaviour
extroversion-introversion
stability-instability
Explain Intelligence and Crime perspective (Nature vs Nurture)
Nature Theory- intelligence determined genetically, believed that low IQ linked to criminality
Nurture theory- intelligence is not inherited, product of environment. Low IQ does not cause crime and may be caused by environment
What’s up with Mental Disorder and Crime
Schizophrenia- hearing voices, hallucinations, delusions, inappropriate responses
Questions remained about a greater inclination towards crime among those with MD
Most with MD are not criminals
So, evaluation of Psychological Trait Theory
findings from trait theory research are foundation to many treatment programs
studies often contradict other studies
counter criticisms- all behaviour begins with individual and interaction of bio and psychological makeup
What the Social Policy Implications of Trait Theory
Primary prevention programs treat problems before they manifest into crime
Secondary prevention programs occurs after law if violated
controversy around mood-altering chemicals and psychosurgery to control behaviour
