Eysenck's Explanation

Question 1

What type is Eysenck’s theory?

Answer 1

A Biopsychosocial theory.

Question 2

When did Eysenck propose his theory?

Answer 2

1947.

Question 3

What are the two dimensions which Eysenck proposed personality could be measured on?

Answer 3

• Introversion / Extroversion.
• Neuroticism / Stability.
  (- He later added psychoticism.)

Question 4

What personality type did Eysenck say that criminals have?

Answer 4

P E N:

• Psychoticism
• Extroversion
• Neuroticism

Question 5

Eysenck developed an EPI, what is this?

Answer 5

Eysenck Personality Inventory:

A psychological test which locates respondents along the E and N dimensions to determine their personality type.

Question 6

Why is psychoticism more common in men?

Answer 6

Because it has been linked to testosterone levels, high testosterone in men means higher psychoticism scores.

Question 7

What is PEN?

Answer 7

Psychoticism, Extroversion, Neuroticism:

Eysenck described this as the criminal personality.

Question 8

What are the three personality dimensions that Eysenck presented?

Answer 8

• Extrovert / Introvert
• Neuroticism / Stable
• Psychoticism / Socialisation

Question 9

What is meant by psychoticism?

Answer 9

Aggression, impulsivity, aloofness, and antisocial behaviour, indicating a susceptibility to psychosis and psychopathic disorders.

Question 10

Eysenck later added a third dimension to his personality model, what is this dimension?

Answer 10

Psychoticism (/Socialisation).

Question 11

Which biological factor has been linked to psychoticism?

Answer 11

High testosterone levels.

Question 12

What did Eysenck link to high levels of extraversion?

Answer 12

Under stimulated nervous system.

Question 13

Eysenck linked what factor to neuroticism?

Answer 13

A highly reactive nervous system.

Question 14

What test shows delayed gratification?

Answer 14

The marshmallow test.

Question 15

Why did Eysenck say that extraversion caused crimes?

Answer 15

Because he said extroverts had an under stimulated nervous system and this causes them to seek external stimulation (through crime).

Question 16

What is neuroticism?

Answer 16

A chronic level of emotional instability and proneness to psychological distress.

Question 17

What is extraversion?

Answer 17

The orientation of one’s interests and energies towards the outer world of people and things rather than the inner world of subjective experience.

Question 18

Why might an extrovert partake in a dangerous crime according to Eysenck?

Answer 18

Because they seek to stimulate their under aroused nervous system.

Question 19

The theory is a biopsychosocial one, why is it bio?

Answer 19

Biological basis to behaviour, over-reactive nervous system (neuroticism), high levels of testosterone (psychoticism), under-aroused nervous system (extroversion).

Question 20

The theory is a biopsychosocial one, why is it psycho?

Answer 20

Personality expressed as a result of the biological basis, PEN personality.

Question 21

What is the marshmallow test?

Answer 21

Children are given a marshmallow and told if they wait for the experimenter to re-enter then they will get two marshmallows. They are left alone with the marshmallow until the researcher returns.

Question 22

The theory is a biopsychosocial one, why is it social?

Answer 22

Socialisation during childhood, have not learned delayed gratification and therefore cannot be easily conditioned.

Question 23

Eysenck said that a ‘normal’ person would avoid wrong-doing, why is this?

Answer 23

Because of previous punishment, perhaps during in childhood which conditioned the idea that bad behaviour leads to punishment.

Question 24

Eysenck said that lack of delayed gratification led to criminal behaviour, what causes a lack of delayed gratification?

Answer 24

Those with high scores on extraversion and neuroticism were less easily conditioned.

Question 25

What is the role of socialisation in criminality?

Answer 25

Children learn delayed gratification through socialisation, criminals are only concerned with immediate gratification.

Question 26

Describe Eysenck’s research?

Answer 26

Eysenck and his wife Sybil assessed 2070 male prisoners with the EPI, they were compared to a control group of 2422 males. On measures of P, E and N, prisoners recorded higher scores than the control group which accords with the prediction of the theory.

Question 27

Which process usually teaches children delayed gratification?

Answer 27

The process of socialisation.

Question 28

AO3 - Inconsistencies with replication.

Answer 28

Farrington et al (1982) reviewed Eysenck’s study and found offenders tend to score highly on P measures, but not always on E and N. There are also inconsistent differences on EEG studies between E and I, measuring levels of arousal.

Question 29

AO3 - Single criminal type.

Answer 29

The idea that all offender behaviour can be explained by one personality type is heavily criticised. Digman’s Five Factor Model of personality suggests that there are many dimensions of personality which account for different factors.

Question 30

AO3 - Cultural bias.

Answer 30

Burtol and Holanchock (1979) looked into cultural differences. Studying Hispanic and African-American offenders in a maximum security prison in New York based on criminal history. It was found that all offender groups were less extraverted than a non-criminal group.

Question 31

AO3 - Holistic view.

Answer 31

The theory fits well with other biological explanations and considers many factors (biological, psychological and social) which is a more holistic view.

Question 32

AO3 - Preventative method.

Answer 32

The theory allows for a method of prevention to stop crime. This is because the marshmallow test can be given to children to see if they have learnt delayed gratification and if they have not then they can be taught it through conditioning.

Question 33

AO3 - Consistency of personality.

Answer 33

It has been criticised that personality cannot be reduced to a singular score and some critics argue that personality is not a stable entity.

Question 34

AO3 - Validity of EPI.

Answer 34

Personality tests are self-report methods, this mean that they are subjective to each prisoner and the results may be affected by social desirability bias.