Eysenck's Personality (biological explanation) Flashcards
Eysencks Theory of Personality
It has been suggested certain personality types are more likely to engage in crime and anti-social behaviour. The basis of Eysenck’s theory is based on both biological and environmental factors. Eysenck tries to combine physiological, social and environmental factors to explain criminality.
Implication
There are important implications for associating crime with personality as we could argue that criminals are not therefore to blame for their behaviour, or even that it may be possible to identify criminal personalities and intervene before a crime has been committed.
Extroversion
If someone is classed as an extrovert, they are sociable, like arties, have many friends and prefer talking to people rather than being alone. They like to take risks, crave excitement and can act upon on the spur of the moment and therefore, are generally fairly impulsive.
Introverts
Introverts are quiet and enjoy their own company. They prefer books to people, have fewer friends but sustain deeper relationships, they are somewhat serious and like a structured orderly life.
Neuroticism
These traits are made up of a number of factors such as anxiousness, depression, feeling of guilt, low self esteem, tenseness, irrationality, being shy and moody, and emotional stability. These traits are either high or low. Eysenck found that woman tend to have higher neuroticism scores than men.
Psychoticism
There is an absence of other traits and more high levels such as aggression, coldness, egocentricity, an impersonal attitude, impulsivity, antisocial behaviour, lack of empathy, creativity and a tough-minded attitude. Those with low levels of psychoticism are empathetic, unselfish, warm, peaceful and pleasant.
How does these traits develop?
He suggested a child’s socialisation is based on associations and conditioning between social behaviours and punishment, the child develops a conscience that prevents them acting in antisocial ways.
1. A child is conditioned (socialised)
2. Child learns a sense of right and wrong
3. Child avoids behaviour which lead to punishment
4. Child controls own impulses
Level of conditioning varies and is based on the persons genes and nervous system. The idea that we are born with some key differences and that criminal behaviour results from a failure to learn certain immature tendencies need to be controlled. Certain traits more likely to lend themselves to antisocial behaviour and certain personality types are less susceptible to conditioning.
The Biological Bit
We inherit the nervous system. Eysenck argued there was a biological element to criminal behaviour by inking the criminal personality traits to the central nervous system. He believed that criminality could be liked to under-arousal in the CNS.
The Environmental Bit
Socialisation is important. Succession pf socialisation does depend upon biology as you are less likely to learn from punishment.
A criminal has high PEN - psychoticism
Nature
-Less known about the the biological origins of high P but links show high testosterone and high dopamine to be factors. They are more likely to be criminals because they have no conscience so can commit a crime without remorse.
Nurture
-You can’t change it due to the biological factors.
A criminal has high PEN - extroversion
Nature
-Stronger dopamine reward system, therefore are more likely to respond positively to reinforcers such as sex and money (acquire them illegally)
Nurture
-Thrill-seeking situations, socialisation
Biology overrides environment
A criminal has a high PEN - neurotici
Nature
-Determined by activity in your limbic system. ANS becomes overly aroused in neurotics leading to higher levels of emotional behaviour. It is linked to the ANS as sympathetic division is quick to turn on and parasympathetic is slow to turn off to help control emotions. Linked to impulsivity and violent behaviour/response (flight) which may explain assault.
Nurture
-Over sensitive, anything in the environment may be seen as a threat.
Credibility of Eysenck’s theory
Hard to test - therefore difficult to repeat which lowers the reliability
Use of self report - social desirability, subjective when identifying
Correlational data - only a relationship between PEN and delinquency. Cannot establish a cause and effect
Application- Preventing crimes
If underlying tendencies are detected in childhood, change socialisation. For the child - introduce early intervention such as anger management in schools etc. linked to delinquency, reducing criminal behaviour such.
Implication - labelling
Labelling people due to personality scores may cause self-fulfilling prophecies so intervention may be counterproductive.An example of this can be in schools, when children are labelled by teachers such as naughty. They may fulfil this trait.
