Criminal psychology ( key terms ) Flashcards
State the definition of Monozygotic twins
Twins developed from one fertilised egg that has split into two ; considered to be genetically identical
Operant conditioning
learning from the
consequences of actions.
Positive reinforcement
receiving something
pleasant for a behaviour, so we repeat it.
Negative reinforcement
the avoidance of
something unpleasant, so we do it again.
Positive punishment
receiving
something unpleasant for a
behaviour, so we do not do it
again.
Negative punishment
removing something pleasant
so we do not repeat the
behaviour again.
Primary reinforcer
a reinforcer
that satisfies a biological need.
Secondary reinforcer
a
reinforcer of no survival value,
but we have learned to associate
it with a primary reinforcer.
Social learning theory
behaviour is learned through the
observation and imitation of role
models.
Modelling
learning a new
behaviour through paying
attention to, retaining and
reproducing the behaviour of a
role model.
Role model
a person who we
admire or with whom we share
similar characteristics.
Observational learning
learning new behaviours through
watching and modelling a role
model.
Vicarious reinforcement
motivation to model the
behaviours of others who we see being rewarded for
their behaviour.
Identification
temporarily adopting the behaviour
of a role model or group.
Dizygotic twins
twins
developed from two different
eggs fertilised during the same
pregnancy; dizygotic twins are
not genetically identical.
Personality
characteristics and qualities that make
up someone’s individual character.
Temperament
the nature someone is born with,
which affects their behaviour.
Extraversion
behaviour that is outgoing, sensation-
seeking and sociable.
Introversion
behaviour that is reserved, calm and quiet.
Unstable neuroticism
a personality trait associated with being over-reactive in stressful situations, over-emotional and anxious.
Stable neuroticism
a personality trait associated
with being unreactive in stressful situations and
emotionally unaffected.
Psychoticism
a personality trait that is cold, lacks empathy, is antisocial and can be aggressive.
Eysenck’s personality questionnaire (EPQ):
a questionnaire to measure extraversion, introversion,
stable and unstable neuroticism, and psychoticism.
Socialisation
the way you are
raised and taught how to behave.
Holism
the theory of explaining
something as a whole.
Sociologist
a type of researcher
interested in the effects of social
conditions on behaviour and
societies.
Recidivism
when an offender
is punished for their crime but
commits another crime when
released (rate of reoffending).
Rehabilitative
a programme
designed to help offenders rather
than punish them.
detention/custody
a prison sentence.
Restorative justice
when a victim
and offender meet; it is a process
used to help a victim recover and
make an offender understand the
impact of their crime.
Curfew
having to be home at
certain times, such as between
7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Community sentencing
when an offender serves a sentence
in the community rather than in
prison; they have to pay back the
community by doing jobs such as
removing graffiti.
Token economy programme
a programme designed
to reward prisoners for prosocial behaviour; prisoners
collect tokens that can be exchanged for privileges.
Anger management programme
cognitive behavioural treatment for violent offenders to help
them control their anger.
Psychopath
a person who is characterised by a lack of guilt and emotion, antisocial behaviour and selfishness.
Demand characteristics
when the behaviour of participants
changes because they derive
cues from the experimenter
about the nature of the
study and conform to those
expectations.
