Eysenck’s Theory Of The Criminal Personality

Question 1

What type of approach is this explanation

Answer 1

-psychological explanation but agrees criminal behaviour has a biological basis but more concerned with how that impacted individuals personality and the type of nervous system inherited

Question 2

What is extroversion

Answer 2

Someone sociable, assertive and cheerful
-seek out novelty and excitement and enjoy being the centre of attention
-energised by spending time with people

Question 3

What is introversion

Answer 3

-reserved, passive and thoughtful
-mostly interact in small groups and with one on one relationships
-energised by spending time alone

Question 4

Is extroversion or introversion associated with criminal behaviour and why

Answer 4

Extroversion
-underactive NS (due to lower cortical arousal) which means they constantly seek excitement, stimulation and risk taking behaviour
-not easily conditioned so don’t learn from their mistakes

Question 5

What is are characteristics of neuroticism

Answer 5

-difficulty coping with stress
-may focus on negative events
-nervous, jumpy and over anxious
-display unpredictable behaviour

Question 6

Characteristics of stability

Answer 6

-resilient and less reactive to negative stimuli/events
-appear confident and usually have good sense of self esteem
-can manage challenging situations

Question 7

Is neuroticism or stability associated with criminal behaviour and why

Answer 7

-neuroticism as high levels of reactivity in their sympathetic NS, respond quickly to situations of threat

Question 8

What is psychoticism and it’s biological cause

Answer 8

Characterised by someone cold, unemotional, aggressive, manipulative, tough minded and impulsive
-leads to criminal behaviour as higher levels of testosterone, associated with aggression

Question 9

Role of socialisation in criminal behaviour

Answer 9

-criminals developmentally immature
-individuals with high extroversion and neuroticism have NS that makes them difficult to condition
-due to lack of conditioning they do not learn via socialisation how to delay gratification nor do they develop the anxiety that comes with acting anti socially
-thus more likely to act anti socially in situations where the opportunity presented itself