esynecks personality theory Flashcards
What did Eysencks personality theory say?
Argues that criminality is a result of a particular personality type.
It said that criminals are extroverted and neurotic (impulsive and restless)
What are the two personality dimensions?
Extraversion vs introversion (E)
Neuroticism vs emotional stability (N)
What is introverted vs extroverted? Explain the two
Introverted personalities are reserved, thoughtful, quiet, self controlled, pessimistic and reliable.
Extroverted personalities are outgoing, sociable, impulsive, carefree, optimistic and often aggressive and short tempered
What is neuroticism vs emotional stability? Explain the two
Neurotic personalities are anxious, moody and often depressed.
Emotionally stable personalities are calm, controlled and unworried
what did eysnecks questionnaire do? what did it suggest about criminals?
It ranked people on a scale of E to N (extraverted to neurotic), most people have personalities around the middle. However he found that criminals have a high score of E and N, therefore criminals tend to be extraverted and neurotic
How could conditioning and genetic inheritance explain this?
conditioning- some psychologists argue that we seek pleasure and avoid pain through association and consequences, conditioning.
genetic inheritance- argues that individuals inherit a nervous system that causes them to develop a criminal personality
Therefore the combination of these E and N can lead to criminal behaviour
What is psychoticism? What does it mean to have a high ‘P’?
Later on Eysneck added the P, as a further personality dimension. People with this are more likely to engage in criminal behaviour as they are cruel, aggressive and lack empathy. A high p can overlap with other psychiatric illness’ such as schizophrenia
strength: does it have real life application? can it explain offending?
This theory is useful in describing how some measurable tendencies could increase a persons risk of offending. It has real life application as it can help explain in court why someone could do a criminal act, and it can help diagnose someone with a psychiatric illness.
weakness: what did Farrington find for contradicting evidence?
Farrington examined a range of studies and found that prisoners are neurotic and psychotic, but not extraverted. Eysnecks theory lacks reliability as its not able to be accuratley replicated. t loses consistency
weakness: why is this not always accurate? explain ted bundy and his personality
Ted Bundy was shy, and didnt attend any school or public events. This therefore proves that criminals wont always be extraverted, his theory now lacks validity.
strength: have some studies supported this?
Some studies have supported this, offenders tend to be extraverted and neurotic. These may have been done to current prisoners
