Eysenck's Theory of the Criminal Personality

Question 1

Eyesnck’s Theory (1947) of 3 personality dimensions

Answer 1

• Introversion-Extraversion (E)
• Neuroticism-Stability (N)
• Psychoticism-Sociability (P)

These traits are fixed in origin and have an innate biological basis

Question 2

Extraversion - Introversion (E) - 1st dimension of personality

Answer 2

Extraverts have under active nervous systems => seek excitement + and engage in risk taking

Question 3

Neuroticism - Stability (N) - 2nd dimension

Answer 3

Neurotic ppl have high level of reactivity in the sympathetic nervous system
=> reacts quickly to threat, jumpy and unpredictable

Question 4

Psychotic - Stability (P)

Answer 4

Psychotic ppl have higher levels of testosterone
=> cold, unemotional + prone to aggression

Question 5

The Criminal Personality

Answer 5

Neurotic + extravert + psychoticism
=> criminal behaviour is also selfish + concerned with immediate gratification, according to Eysenck

personality type measured/determined using Eysenck Personality Questionaire (EPQ)

Question 6

Those with high E and N scores + conditioning

Answer 6

Had nervous systems make it difficult for them to learn / be conditioned

=> less likely to learn anxiety response to antisocial impulses => more likely to be antisocial

Question 7

(S) Evidence supporting Eysenck’s Theory - Eysenck and Eysenck (1977)

Answer 7

Compared 2070 male prisoners scores on EPQ to 2422 male controls
- On measures of E, P and N (across all ages), prisoners scored higher

Suggests => theory is valid as evidence agrees with predictions of theory

Question 8

Counter to Eysenck and Eysenck- Conflicting evidence in meta analysis and cortical arousal

Answer 8

Farrington - meta analysis founded higher scores of P but not for E and N

Küssner - inconsistent evidence of different cortical arousal in extraverts and intraverts

Suggests => as central assumptions of criminal personality is challenged, theory loses validity and usefulness

Question 9

(L) All offending isn’t explained by personality alone - Moffitt (1993)

Answer 9

• Distinguished between offending that’s adolescence-limited and life-course persistent
• Persistent offending results from reciprocal process between traits + environmental reactions to them

Suggests => more complex than Eyesnck proposed suggested - original explanation is too simple

Question 10

(L) Cultural factors not considered - Bartol and Holanchock (1979)

Answer 10

Studied Hispanic + AA offenders in New York max security prison in 6 groups based on offences

=> all groups were less extrovert than control - B+H suggest due to diff. culture to Eysenck’s investigation

Questions => the generalisability of the criminal personality (cultural bias)

Question 11

AO3 Extra : Is personality static or even a thing?

Answer 11

Measuring personality is hard to reduce to a score - too complex
=> undermines Eysenck’s claim to identify ‘natural offenders’ using EPQ

Also, there may be no fixed self that directs behaviour - criminal or not

Question 12

(L) Eysenck’s theory is biological reductionist

Answer 12

Many factors such as poverty, poor housing and education can make someone a criminal

Idea innate personality is incompatible with legal system as crime is seen as a moral choice