Eysenck (Psychological)

Question 1

What did Eysenck define crime as?

Answer 1

Crime is the result of an extraverted-neurotic (high E, high N) personality.

Question 2

Define extraverts.

Answer 2

Extraverts seek stimulation (which often leads to rule breaking), they are very sociable and tend to get bored easily. Their nervous systems need stimulation.

Question 3

Define neurotics.

Answer 3

They suffer from emotional instability, they have more reactive nervous systems and are prone to overreacting. Their anxiety prevents them learning from punishment.

Question 4

Define introverts.

Answer 4

They are quiet and reserved, and don’t tend to enjoy going out to socialise.

Question 5

Define stable people.

Answer 5

They have less reactive nervous systems, and are stable emotionally.

Question 6

Define psychoticism (+ testosterone).

Answer 6

People who suffer from psychoticism (also known as psychopaths) are ‘abnormal’, and they feel no remorse. Testosterone links to men being more criminal. They have a high P, and are more likely to offend.

Question 7

According to Eysenck, is crime biologically or socially based?

Answer 7

Biologically.

Question 8

What is neuroticism?

Answer 8

When you’re unstable.

Question 9

What is being psychotic?

Answer 9

Not feeling any remorse and acting completely absurd.

Question 10

Which 3 characteristics did Eysenck state that criminals were most likely to have?

Answer 10

1. Extroverted
2. Neurotic
3. Psychotic

Question 11

Which place did Eysenck do his criminological study on?

Answer 11

Prisons.

Question 12

Strengths (1 in detail).

Answer 12

1. Useful in describing how some measurable tendencies could increase a person’s risk of offending.
2. Predicts that high E, N and P scores lead to criminality, and some studies support his predictions. Offenders lend towards being extraverted, neurotic and psychotic.

Question 13

Weaknesses (1 in detail).

Answer 13

1. Always used male studies so doesn’t consider the whole picture.
2. Examined a range of studies, some which show prisoners are neurotic and psychotic, but not extraverted.
3. Evidence on prisoners show a correlation between personality type and criminality, but doesn’t prove that personality type causes criminality. Being in prison may cause people to become neurotic.
4. Offenders score highly on impulsiveness (lack self-control), but not sociability (they are loners).