Criminology 2.2 individualistic theories of crime Flashcards
What is the learning theory?
Learning theories are based on the assumption that all behaviours are learned. Albert Bandura believed that people learn criminal behaviour by observing and imitating others. If someone sees crime being rewarded or going unpunished, they are more likely to commit crimes themselves. Bandura said that aggression and crime are learned behaviours that people pick up from their family, friends, community, and the media. His theory says that people who see or experience violence and aggression are more likely to act that way themselves.
What was the experiment?
Albert Bandura conducted an influential experiment in 1961 known as the Bobo doll experiment. In the experiment, children were exposed to an adult model who displayed aggressive behaviour toward a Bobo doll, a weighted inflatable toy with a clown-like appearance. One group saw the model being praised for punching and kicking the doll, while another group saw the model being punished. The children were later allowed to play in a room with the Bobo doll. Those exposed to the aggressive model were more likely to mimic the physical and verbal aggression toward the doll.
How this links to criminal behaviour: The experiment provided evidence that children learn and replicate aggressive acts through observation, which supported Bandura’s social learning theory. The study demonstrated that violence and antisocial behaviour can be transmitted through social modelling. This aggressive behaviour that was demonstrated can later on result in crimes.
Evaluation for this theory?
Strengths : Bandura’s bobo doll study offers research support, it demonstrates a cause and effect relationship. Banduras experiment used controlled variables to support the hypothesis. Banduras study has been replicated numerous times with similar results therefore has high reliability.
Negative: Experiment was done in a false setting therefore the experiment lacks ecological validity. Banduras experiment has ethical issues as it was conducted on children high reliability.
Negative:
New theory: What is the psychodynamic theory?
Theorist Freud believed a persons personality is divided into 3 parts:
Id- controls our selfish urges
The ego- seeks rational and sensible control.
The super ego- our moral conscience ( how you know what’s right and wrong)
How this links to criminality?
Criminologists argue that if a person has an overdeveloped id and an underdeveloped super ego, they’re more likely to commit crimes.
E.g The psychodynamic theory will explain sexual assaults as the offender will not be thinking about the victim’s trauma as they are only thinking about their sexual desire and not the consequences the victim will hold throughout their life.
Evaluation for this theory?
Strengths:Freud theories made a big Impact on the development of psychology and understanding of human behaviour.
The focus on the impact on childhood trauma on future adult criminal behaviour has been widely support by further research and case study analysis.
Neuroscience (brain) supports the existence of id, ego and superego as superset parts of the brain.
Weaknesses: Psychodynamic theory of offending behaviour are no longer accredited by psychologists due to the difficulty of testing the concept.
The theory is unscientific and lacks objective interpretation- different psychologists could draw different conclusions.
There is limited quantitative data from Freud case studies, they were all written by him about his own patients. He also analysed himself and used this in his own research. this makes his research bias.
New theory: What is Kohlbergs theory of moral development?
Lawrence Kohlberg studied moral development by interviewing children of different ages about moral dilemmas. He analysed their reasoning to determine what stage of moral thinking they were in. He found that as children grow older, they progress through distinct stages of moral judgment, from a focus on punishment and rewards to considering social norms and universal ethical principles. Kohlberg’s stage model of moral development became influential in psychology research.
What are the 3 stages of moral development kohlberg discovered?
Lawrence Kohlberg outlined three stages of moral development that correspond to different age ranges. In the pre-conventional stage (ages 4-10), children make moral decisions based on rewards and punishments. In the conventional stage (ages 10-13), they base decisions on social norms and laws. Finally, in the post-conventional stage (age 13+), moral reasoning focuses on universal ethical principles and values beyond norms and laws. Kohlberg believed moral judgment progresses developmentally from a basic to more advanced understanding of morality.
Evaluation of this theory?
Strengths:
Analysed age and moral development in regard to being able to fully make decisions- this has impacted the legal systems and the handing of child offenders.
Kohlberg conducted extensive research behind his theory and was able to provide evidence to support his ideas.
Longitudinal study meant that data was collected over time so could be compared over time.
Weaknesses:
Not all participants remained in the study for 12 years, so the sample became compromised.
Kohlbergs study used hypothetical moral dilemmas rather than real life situations therefore the study lacks ecological validity.
Participants may have attempted to answer in a way to make themselves feel better therefore the study may contain social desirability bias.
The participants were all male therefore we can’t generalise the findings to female moral developments.
New theory: what was Eysenck theory of criminality personality
Eysenck believed that personality is biologically based and that personality traits include dimensions of extroversion and neuroticism that can be measured using a personality questionnaire.
What are the 3 personality types and what characteristics do they hold?
1)Extraversion describes active people who
are sociable, talkative, and assertive they also get bored quickly. High level of extra version need things to do so they’re not bored.
2) Neuroticism -normal, fairly calm and collected people to one’s that tend to be quite “nervous.” High level of this would mean they’re more likely to react to a situation, feel stress and anger and become emotional.
3) Psychotism- a personality type that is prone to take risks, might engage in anti-social behaviours, impulsiveness, or non-conformist behaviour.
The questionnaire meaning?
Eysenck argued for there being a criminal personality, which would characterise people who score highly on these three dimensions.
Evaluation for this theory?
Strengths: There is research support for this theory, specifically research into trauma patients and their levels of neuroticism.
Early detection of criminal tendencies can lead to early interventions based on parenting or early treatment.
This theory of personality testing has lead to further development of personality yesterday which are used in many other parts of psychology such as business psychology and clinical diagnostics.
Weaknesses: This theory lacks reliability due to participants not always responding the same in way when retaking the questionnaire.
Research relies on self report techniques which can result in biased or deliberately false answers.
The theory suggests that personality is genetic and doesn’t change over time.
