Forensic Psychology - Eysencks Theory Flashcards
What did Eysenck propose ?
Behaviour could be represented along two dimensions : introversion / extraversion
+ neuroticism/ stability
-> two dimensions combine to form variety of person characteristics
What did Eysenck do later on ?
Add a third dimension :
Psychoticism
According to eysenck all personality types have -
Innate biological basis
The criminal personality type is what
Neurotic - extravert
Explain a what a neurotic - extravert is like
Extraverts - underactive nervous system
Constantly seeking excitement, stimulation and are likely to engage in risk taking behaviour
Neurotic individuals - nervous, jumpy and over anxious
Instability - behaviour is difficult to predict
What did Eysenck suggest about psychoticism
A typical offender will score high on measures of psychoticism -> personality type that is characterised as cold, unemotional and prone to aggression
How is personality linked to criminal behaviour ?
Via socialisation process
What is socialisation
The process in which children are taught to become more able to delay gratification and more socially oriented
How did Eysenck link socialisation to crime ?
Criminal behaviour -> developmentally immature in that it is selfish and concerned with immediate gratification.
Individuals with high E and N scores had nervous Systems that made them difficult to condition - likely to act antisocial in situations
What did Eysenck develop to measure criminal personality
Eysenck Personality inventory - form of psychological test
