Eysencks Theory

Question 1

What is Eysenck’s Key idea?

Answer 1

There were 2 dimensions of personality that could be linked to criminal behaviour.

Question 2

What were the 2 dimensions of personality?

Answer 2

extraversion vs introversion
Neuroticism vs emotional stability.

Question 3

What personality did he say most criminals have?

Answer 3

highly extraverted and neurotic personalities.

Question 4

What are the strengths of this theory?

Answer 4

• he predicted that having high e and n scores can lead to criminality
• some studies support his predictions - more validity.

Question 5

What are the weaknesses of this theory?

Answer 5

• Farrington examined prisoners as well and he found they were highly neurotic but not highly extraverted. This contradicts his theory.
• it doesn’t prove that personality causes criminality as there could be environmental factors which could lead to personality changes.