Forensic Psychology -> Explanations Of Offender Profiling Flashcards
1
Q
Historical Approach to Offending
A
- Lombroso
- Genetic throwbacks
- Natural tendency
2
Q
Atavistic Form
A
- Physiological characteristics
- Atavistic
- Narrow, sloping brow, strong jaw, high cheekbones & asymmetrical face
3
Q
Weaknesses of the atavistic form
A
- Racist
- Supports eugenics
& - No evidence
& - Poverty & poor diet
4
Q
Genetic Explanations
A
- Candidate genes
- MAOA gene
- CDH13
- Diathesis-stress model
5
Q
Neural explanations
A
- APD
- Grey matter
- Empathy
6
Q
Weaknesses of biological explanation
A
- Concordance rates
& - Too vague
& - Brain scanning
7
Q
General Personality Theory
A
- Intro/extraversion & neuroticism/stability
- personality traits
- Psychoticism
- biological personality traits
8
Q
Criminal personality
A
- Neurotic-extrovert
- High psychoticism
- socialisation
- developmentally immature
- Antisocial responses
9
Q
Weaknesses of general personality theory
A
- Higher psychoticism, not neuroticism or extraversion
& - Reduces personality
& - Simplistic
- Crime is varied and complex
10
Q
Moral reasoning
A
- Stage theory of moral development
- Preconventional level
- punishment & reward orientated
11
Q
Strength of moral reasoning
A
- Offenders show less mature moral reasoning
12
Q
Weakness of moral reasoning
A
- The level may depend on the offence
13
Q
Cognitive distortions
A
- Faulty ways of thinking that affect how people perceive themselves or others
- Hostile attribution bias
- Minimalisation
14
Q
Strengths of cognitive distortions
A
- Beneficial in the treatment of criminal behaviour
- Reducing cognitive distortions reduces reoffending
15
Q
Weaknesses of cognitive distortions
A
- Cannot account for the source
& - Cannot be observed or measured
16
Q
Differential association theory
A
- Offending depends on the norms of the offenders social group
- Offending can depend on the social groups views
- Learning can occur through SLT
- The potential offender may also learn particular techniques for committing crime
17
Q
Strengths of differential association theory
A
- Able to account for crime within all sectors of society
& - More desirable & realistic solution
18
Q
Weaknesses of differential association theory
A
- Difficult to test scientifically
- Most evidence is correlational
& - Could stereotype individuals
- Ignores free will
19
Q
Inadequate superego
A
- If the superego is somehow deficient or inadequate then criminal behaviour is inevitable because the id is not properly controlled
- Weak, Deviant, Over-harsh
20
Q
Weakness of an inadequate superego
A
- Statistics do not support girls having a weaker superego than boys
& - No moral gender difference
& - Same-sex parents are not less law abiding
& - Most offenders try to avoid punishment
