Eysenck's Criminal Personality Theory Flashcards
What did Eysenck’s theory suggest?
Criminals have a particular personality type
What are the three dimensions of personality that Eysenck suggests?
Extroversion
Neuroticism
Psychoticism
What are the typical traits of the extroversion personality type?
Sociable, lively and optimistic
What are the typical traits of the neuroticism personality type?
High levels of anxiety, moody and irritable
What are the typical traits of the psychoticism personality type?
Impulsive, impatient and aggressive
Why are extroverted people more likely to commit crimes?
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
Why are neurotic people more likely to commit crimes?
Due to the person being much more unstable and prone to over-reacting to stimuli with anger and may commit crimes such as assault
Why are psychotic people more likely to commit crimes?
Due to the higher levels of testosterone and unbalanced behaviour and aggression therefore may commit crimes such as murder
What is the role of socialisation in criminal personality?
Criminal behaviour is as a result of both innate differences and environmental factors, not just one alone
What is Eysenck’s and Eysenck’s (1977) research to support the personality of criminal behaviour theory?
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
How can Eysenck’s and Eysenck’s (1977) research to support the personality of criminal behaviour theory be criticised?
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
Explain issues with measuring personality as a weakness of the personality of criminal behaviour theory.
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
Explain considers the influence of nature and nurture as a strength of the personality of criminal behaviour theory.
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
