Eysenck's Criminal Personality Theory Flashcards

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1
Q

What did Eysenck’s theory suggest?

A

Criminals have a particular personality type

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2
Q

What are the three dimensions of personality that Eysenck suggests?

A

Extroversion
Neuroticism
Psychoticism

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3
Q

What are the typical traits of the extroversion personality type?

A

Sociable, lively and optimistic

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4
Q

What are the typical traits of the neuroticism personality type?

A

High levels of anxiety, moody and irritable

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5
Q

What are the typical traits of the psychoticism personality type?

A

Impulsive, impatient and aggressive

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6
Q

Why are extroverted people more likely to commit crimes?

A

This is due to an inherited under-aroused nervous system and so there is a need to seek stimulation to restore optimum stimulation therefore may commit crimes such as theft

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7
Q

Why are neurotic people more likely to commit crimes?

A

Due to the person being much more unstable and prone to over-reacting to stimuli with anger and may commit crimes such as assault

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8
Q

Why are psychotic people more likely to commit crimes?

A

Due to the higher levels of testosterone and unbalanced behaviour and aggression therefore may commit crimes such as murder

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9
Q

What is the role of socialisation in criminal personality?

A

Criminal behaviour is as a result of both innate differences and environmental factors, not just one alone

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10
Q

What is Eysenck’s and Eysenck’s (1977) research to support the personality of criminal behaviour theory?

A

2000 male prisoners and 2000 controls were administered Eysenck’s personality questionnaire and scores of extroversion, neuroticism and psychoticism were higher in prisoners than in control

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11
Q

How can Eysenck’s and Eysenck’s (1977) research to support the personality of criminal behaviour theory be criticised?

A

It is open to researcher bias as the research is set to prove Eysenck’s own theory which means he may manipulate the results to support his own theory

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12
Q

Explain issues with measuring personality as a weakness of the personality of criminal behaviour theory.

A

The accuracy of measures of personality can be questioned - Eysenck used a questionnaire to discover personality which is open to social desirability
However he used a lie scale to eliminate participants who lied

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13
Q

Explain considers the influence of nature and nurture as a strength of the personality of criminal behaviour theory.

A

Eysenck’s theory is based on a combination of innate personality traits and socialisation e.g. extroversion born with under-aroused CNS in combination with the influence of socialisation to offer a more complex explanation of behaviour

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