Eyesenck's criminal personality

Question 1

State the three personality dimensions

Answer 1

E - Extroversion
N - Neuroticism
P - Psychoticism

Question 2

Describe extroversion/introversion

Answer 2

Seeks arousal and therefore takes risks and engages in dangerous situations

Question 3

Describe neuroticism/stability

Answer 3

Unpredictable and unstable, over-reacts

Question 4

Describe psychoticism

Answer 4

Aggressive; lack of empathy means victims’ perspectives are not considered

Question 5

Describe the biological basis for personality: extravert

Answer 5

Arousal in the nervous system. Extraverts seek arousal to stimulate their nervous system because they are innately under-aroused

Question 6

Describe the biological basis for personality: neurotic

Answer 6

Volatile nervous system and reacts in unstable ways under pressure

Question 7

Describe the biological basis for personality: psychotic

Answer 7

Psychoticism is the result of high testosterone levels (men more likely to become criminals)

Question 8

Support Eysenck’s theory

Answer 8

Eysenck & Eysenck: Comparison of 2070 male prisoners 2422 male controls
Prisoners scored significantly higher on E, N & P scores

Zuckerman (1987): MZ twins higher correlations than DZ on ENP scores
However, correlation ≠ causation. Therefore we can’t establish cause & effect, damages the internal validity of the data

Question 9

Criticise Eysenck’s theory

Answer 9

Farrington et al. (1982): Meta-analysis of evidence
Criminals high on P scale, but little evidence for E & N

Issues with questionnaire data
> Closed questions, however, use of lie scales is good