eysenck theory

Question 1

General personality theory

Answer 1

Eysencks proposed that behaviour could be represented along 2 dimensions: introversion/ extra version (e) and neuroticism/ stability (n)

Two dimensions combine to form a variety of personality
characteristics.

Eyesncks added a third dimension called psychoticism (p)

Question 2

Biological basis

Answer 2

Our personality traits are biological in origin and come about through the type of nervous system we inherit.

Criminal personality type - have innate biological basis

Extraverts have an underactive nervous system which means they constantly seek excitement, stimulation and are likely to engage in risk taking behaviours. They also tend to not condition easily and learn from their mistakes

neurotic= tend to be nervous, jumpy and over anxious and behaviour is difficult to predict.

Question 3

Criminal personality

Answer 3

Criminal personality type is neurotic- extravert

Typical offender will also score highly on psychoticism - a personality type that is characterised as cold, unemotional and prone to aggression

Question 4

Role of socialisation

Answer 4

Personality is linked to criminal behaviour through socialisation processes

Eysenck saw Criminal behaviour as immature and selfish and concerned with immediate gratification

People with high e and n scores had nervous system that made them difficult to condition

As result they would not easily respond to antisocial impulses with anxiety

Question 5

Measuring criminal personality

Answer 5

Developed eysenck personality inventory ( epi)

A psychological test which locates respondents along e and n dimension to determine their personality type.

Question 6

Evaluation of Eysenck’s theory

Answer 6

Reductionist
- it tells us for e.g that criminals are neurotic- extravert but it does not tell us why they are criminals. therefore its limited in its explanation.

• links nicely with diathesis stress model of behaviour which argues for biological predisposition combining with an environmental trigger for particular behaviour.
• cultural bias = bartol and Holanchock ( 1979) found that Hispanic and African American offenders score lower on extraversion than control group. this suggest Eysenck theory lacks generalisability to other cultures