Eysenck's Theory

Question 1

Three Personality Dimensions

Answer 1

Eysenck (1947) proposed that personality could be represented along three dimensions:

• Introversion - extraversion (E)
• Neuroticism - stability (N)
• Psychoticism - sociability (P)

The dimensions combine to form a variety of personality types or characteristics

Question 2

Innate, biological basis for personality types

Answer 2

Suggested personality types are innate and based on the nervous system we inherit

• Extraverts have an underactive nervous system which means they seek excitement and engage in risk-taking
• Neurotic individuals have a high level of reactivity in the SNS, they respond quickly to situations of threat. This means that they tend to be nervous jumpy and overanxious so their behaviour is difficult to predict
• Psychotic individuals are suggested to have higher levels of testosterone, they are cold, unemotional, and prone to aggression

Question 3

Criminal personality = neurotic extravert + high psychoticism

Answer 3

The criminal perosnality type is a combination:

• Neurotics are unstable and therefore prone to overreact to situations of threat
• Extraverts seek more arousal and thus engage in dangerous activities
• Psychotics are aggressive and lacking empathy

Question 4

Offending behaviour is concerned with immediate gratification

Answer 4

Eysenck saw offending behaviour as developmentally immature in that it is selfish and concerned with immediate gratification

Offenders are impatient and cannot wait for things

Question 5

High E and high N scores lack ability to learn (be conditioned)

Answer 5

During the process of socialisation children are taught to become more able to delay gratification and more socially orientated

Believed that people with high E and N scores had nervous systems that made it difficult for them to learn (be conditioned)

As a result, they are less likely to learn anxiety responses to antisocial impulses and thus more likely to act antisocially

Question 6

Personality can be measured using the EPQ

Answer 6

the notion that personality can be measured is centrals to Eysenck’s theory and useful in research

He developed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), a psychological test that locates respondents along the E, N an P dimensions to determine their personality type