Eysencks Theory

Question 1

General Personality Theory

Answer 1

Individuals inherit certain type of nervous system that affects ability to learn/adapt to environment
. Behaviour represented on 2 dimensions:
- Introversion/Extroversion (E)
- Neuroticism/Stability (N)
Later added = psychoticism (P)

Eysenck thought criminals were high PEN

Question 2

Measuring Criminal Personality

Answer 2

Developed Eysenck Personality Inventory - from of psychological test, locates respondents along E and N dimensions to determine personality type

Question 3

Characteristics of PEN

Answer 3

Psychoticism = Aggressive, Assertive, Unsympathetic

Extroversion = Sociable, Dominant, Active

Neuroticism = Anxious, Hypochondriac, Moody

Question 4

Biological Basis

Answer 4

Extraverts have underactive nervous system = seek excitement, risk - taking

Neurotic = tend to be nervous, jumpy, behaviour difficult to predict

Psychotic = individuals tend to have high tostesterone

Question 5

Role of Socialisation

Answer 5

Saw criminal behaviour as developmentally immature, selfish and concerned with immediate gratification

Question 6

Evaluation (Strengths)

Answer 6

Evidence supporting theory
- Compared 2070 male prisoner scores on EPI with 2422 male control group subdivided into age groups
. Prisoners on average scored higher on PEN

Question 7

Evaluation (Weaknesses)

Answer 7

Evidence contradicting
- Farrington reviewed several studies, offenders scored higher on P but not on E and N

Cultural Bias
- study of Hispanic and African American offenders in NY and divided into 6 groups based on criminal history and nature of offence
. All found to be less extraverted than non-criminal group