FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY: Psychological Explanations for Offending Behaviour (Eysenck's Theory)

Question 1

What was Eysenck’s Theory?

Answer 1

Proposed offending behaviour is caused by a psychological criminal personality. This personality type is biological in origin and comes about through the type of nervous system we inherit.

Question 2

What is the Criminal Personality?

Answer 2

Eysenck proposed this personality type should be represented along two dimensions:
- introversion/extraversion
- neuroticism/stability
Later added psychoticism/normality. These dimensions combine to form a variety of characteristics or traits.

Question 3

What is Extraversion?

Answer 3

Characterised as outgoing people who enjoy risk and danger because their nervous systems are aroused. Get bored easily

Question 4

What is Neuroticism?

Answer 4

Tendency to experience negative emotional states rather than positive emotional states. Get upset easily and their lack of stability is due to an overactive response to threat.

Question 5

What is Psychoticism?

Answer 5

Psychotics are egocentric, aggressive, impulsive, impersonal, ack empathy and generally are not concerned about the welfare of others.

Question 6

What did Eysenck say about the genetic basis for his theory?

Answer 6

Each trait has a biological basis which is mainly innate. 67% of the variance for traits is due to genetic factors.

Question 7

What is the genetic basis for Extraversion?

Answer 7

Determined by overall arousal of a person’s nervous system. Under-aroused people require more stimulation. Extraverts seek stimulation to increase cortical arousal. Introverts are innately over-aroused and seek to reduce or avoid stimulation.

Question 8

What is the genetic basis for Neuroticism?

Answer 8

Level of stability in sympathetic nervous system > how much a person responds in situations of threat. A neurotic person reacts/gets upset quickly. Stable personalities have more unreactive nervous system and are calm under pressure.

Question 9

What is the genetic basis for Psychoticism?

Answer 9

Related to high levels of testosterone which means that men are more likely to be found at this end of the spectrum

Question 10

What is the Role of socialisation in the development of a criminal personality?

Answer 10

• Children taught to delay gratification through conditioning and are punished for antisocial behaviour
• Eysenck saw offending behaviour as developmentally immature
• High extraversion and neuroticism had nervous systems that made them difficult to condition
• Do not learn to easily respond to antisocial and criminal ways