Eysenck's personality theory and aggression

Question 1

main idea of the theory

Answer 1

we are born with some key biological differences

that criminal behaviour results from a failure to learn that certain immature tendencies need to be controlled

certain personality types are less susceptible to conditioning

Question 2

neuroticism

Answer 2

biological predisposition to respond physiologically to a stressful situation

Question 3

extroversion

Answer 3

the amount of stimulation an individual needs from their environment in order to keep a conscience

Question 4

how does a child’s socialisation work

Answer 4

it is based on associations and conditioning between social behaviours and punishment

Question 5

What will under-arousal of the CNS lead to?

Answer 5

poor conditioning and higher extroversion

Question 6

ascending reticular activating system

Answer 6

balances excitation and inhibition processes in order to maintain the optimum level of arousal

part of the CNS

Question 7

what causes extroversion

Answer 7

if the CNS is under aroused due to ARAS strongly inhibiting incoming sensations - the person has poor conditioning - will act in ways to increase arousal - will look for excitement

Question 8

what causes introversion

Answer 8

if the CNS is over aroused due to lack of inhibition from the ARAS - sign of poor conditioning - the person will find ways to reduce this

Question 9

Psychoticism

Answer 9

cold, uncaring, solitary and aggressive

linked to those who committed violent crimes

assumed to be linked to hormones serotonin and testosterone

Question 10

Eysenck - sample

Answer 10

156 ppts

18-38 years old

classified prisoners into 4 types of crime (property, fraud, residual and inadequate)

Question 11

Eysenck - results

Answer 11

Residual crimes - prisoners who did not fit other catagories - high N and low E scores

Inadequate crimes - a lot of convictions over a short time for non violent crimes or robbery - high N and low E score

fraud criminals - low P score

Property - violent crimes - low n and high E scores

Question 11

Eysenck conclusion

Answer 11

criminal behaviour can be predicted by personality type

Question 12

EPI gathers quantitative data

Answer 12

subjectivity isn’t required when gathering data

Question 13

strength - holistic view of behaviour

Question 14

Supporting research - McGurk and McDougal (1981)

Answer 14

compared 100 delinquent with 100 non delinquent college students

delinquent students had higher PEN scores

Non- delinquent had low E and N scores

Question 15

Opposing research - Smith et al.

Answer 15

sensation seekers have an excitable central nervous system - being more aroused and arousable

opposes Eysenck’s proposal that criminal behaviour is a result of stimulus seeking by extroverts in order to achieve an optimum level of stimulation

Question 16

problems with self-report data

Answer 16

ppts may lie in order to be perceived better, or have an external motive

Question 17

deterministic

Answer 17

suggests behaviour type is the sole cause of criminality - does not take other factors into account