Forensics - Psychological: Eysenck

Question 1

Criminal personality theory (Eysenck)

Answer 1

Criminals have a specific personality type that are influenced by biology & upbringing (tested with EPI/EPQ)

Question 2

Personality type

Answer 2

Extraversion-Neuroticism-Psychoticism

Question 3

Extraversion

Answer 3

• Outgoing, thrill seekers & risk takers
• Underactive nervous system (lower resting heart rate)

Question 4

Neuroticism

Answer 4

• Unstable, unpredictable, anxious
• High reactivity in sympathetic nervous system (F/F)

Question 5

Psychoticism

Answer 5

• Cold, aggressive & lack empathy
• High testosterone

Question 6

How high ENP links to crime

Answer 6

• Socialisation processes -> developmentally immature & concerned with immediate gratification
• Through conditioning, children are taught to delay their gratification
• Immaturity = punishments so associate this with anxiety and their anti-social behaviour
  > High E&N -> difficulty to condition due to their nervous system = acting anti-socially when the opportunity is given

Question 7

Strengths of personality theory

Answer 7

+ Supporting study (Eysenck & Eysenck -> 2070 male prisoners scored higher on ENP scores than 2422 control participants) [however, biased research]
+ Measurable (EPI/EPQ test -> usable across cultures to compare differences)

Question 8

Limitations of personality theory

Answer 8

• Contradicting evidence (Farrington et al -> meta-analysis showed high P scores but not E&N alongside inconsistent EEG evidence - validity challenged)
• Reductionist (personality is too complex to be quantifiable or reduced to a score)
• Cultural relativity (Bartol & Holanchock -> Hispanic & African-American prisoners were less E than a control group - questions validity)