eysenck's theory of criminal personality

Question 1

What does Eyseck argue about the criminal personality? (3)

Answer 1

Our personality has a biological basis
Type of nervous system we inherit>criminal personality
Behaviour influences how easily the nervous system responds to stimuli>potential offending

Question 2

What are the 3 features of Eysenck’s criminal personality?
What does this mean for criminality

Answer 2

Extravert v introvert
Neurotic v stable
High v low psychoticism
E, N, P is high in criminality

Question 3

Explain extraversion in criminality

Answer 3

Outgoing, attention seekers due to under-aroused nervous system
Harder to condition, fail to learn from mistakes

Question 4

Explain neuroticism in criminality

Answer 4

Easily upset, overly anxious, obsessive behaviour due to nervous system being easily triggered by threats

Question 5

Explain high levels of psychoticism in criminality

Answer 5

Emotionally cold, do not feel compassion due to high levels of testosterone
* - gender bias, doesn’t explain for women

Question 6

One limitation of this theory is that it ignores the role of nature
*use for biological :)

Answer 6

E: Biological explanation
T: Interactionist approach is better

Question 7

One strength of Eysenck’s theory is that there’s research support

Answer 7

E: Psychologists gave the ‘Eysneck personality questionnaire’ to 100 inmates and 100 students
Inmates had higher levels of E, N, P
T: Credibility

Question 8

One limitation of Eysneck’s theory is that its too simplistic

Answer 8

E: Digman introduced a 5 factor model, including connsciousness and agreeableness
T: ENP is too simplistic, reductionist