Eysenck's Theory Of Criminal Personality Flashcards
what two dimensions can behaviour be represented along
the two dimensions : introversion /extraversion (e) and neuroticism/ stability (n)
what’s third dimension with later established
psychoticism (p)
what traits do extraverts have
underactive nervous system
engage in risk taking behaviours
do not condition easily and do not learn from their mistakes
what traits do neurotic individuals have
nervous and jumpy
their general instability means their behaviour is often difficult to predict
what criminal personality type is present in both dimensions are combined
neurotic-extravert
what is the supporting evidence for eysenck’s Theory
on measures of psychoticism, prisoners recorded higher scores than controls which agrees with the prediction of this theory
why is the supporting research limited
it faces the limitation of being gender bias due to male prisoners being the only Focus
it doesn’t account for women so minimises the differences between men and women
thus demonstrating beta bias
this means the validity of this theory is reduced
it lacks explanatory power due to opposing views challenging the research
how else is personality linked to criminal behaviour
via the socialisation process
what is the socialisation process and why is it an issue with people with high e&n scores
the process of socialisation is where children are taught become more able to delay gratification and more socially orientated
people with e and n scores have nervous systems that made them difficult to condition so were more likely to act antisocially
what test was introduced to determine personality type
eysenck personality inventory EPI
what are the limitations of using questionnaires to identify personality type
personality type may not be reducible to the school as personality may change depending on what situation they are involved in, then maybe no fixed behaviour
also respondents mainly due to social desirability bias as most people want to present a positive image of themselves and may lie to demonstrate that they have a good moral high ground therefore highlighting low internal validity
why does eysenck’s Theory suffer biological determinism
he suggests criminal behaviour is not chosen but caused by factors outside individuals control
meaning the inherited nervous system governs the personality type of a person and can be the cause of their criminal behaviour
individuals cannot be expected to not have free will when it comes to explaining crime image of the system for example Steven mobley
