Individuaistic Theories Of Crime Flashcards
Individualist theiry of crime
Micro theories. Focus on a small group of offenders or on individual crime. Attempt to answer why some individuals are more likely than others to commute crime
Learning theory- bandura
Criminal behaviour is learnt by watching others
Learning theory experiment
Bobo doll- demonstrate that when children exposed to aggressiveness they copy
Learning theory example
Jamie Buldger case- Thompson and vennables left to play violent video games all day
What did Sutherland say
People learn their values and technique for criminal behaviour from association with different people
Bobo doll findings
One set of adults were hitting the doll and children’s watched, when left alone they copied
Psychodynamic theories - Freud
Examine people’s early childhood experiences. Our behaviour and thinking is unconscious
Freud said brain divided into 3 parts
ID- instinct, selfish, animalistic
Ego- sensible, rational,
Superego- morality conscionce
What did Freud said can cause change in behaviour
If any of the 3 parts of the brain become unbalanced
What happens if ID dominates
Mind may be uncontrollable
What happens if superego is dominant
May be driven to be a perfectionist and become judgemental
What happens if ego is dominant
Incapable of accepting change and unable to be flexible in their approach
What was Bowlbys study
Studied 44 juvenile delinquents and compared them to non disturbed delinquents . Found taht 39% had experienced complete separation from their mothers for 6 months or more in their lives compared to 5% if controlled group
Psychological theories - Eysenck
Certain personality types lead to commit crime
Eysencks study
700 soldiers treated for neurotic disorders and found most extroverts
Extraversion
Outgoing, socially confident person. Seek stimulation from outside word.
Introvert
Focus on more internal thoughts, feelings
Neuroticism
Low self confidence, irritable, moody. Respond fearfully to new intimidating situations
Stability
Calm and in control of emotions
Useful if eysencks study
Supported by research.
Formed basis of many modern tests that try predict behaviour
Negatives of eysencks study
Too simplistic Relies on honesty of participants Says personality is solely genetic Subjective answers Not all extroverts are criminals
Positives of banduras learning theory
The bobo doll showed model had effect on child’s behaviour
Variables were controlled
Replicated study with slight changes and similar results
Negatives of banduras study
Lavatory study of imitation with low natural validity
Ethical issues due to exposing child to aggression so they imitate it
Novelty aspect of doll for those children who had never played with it before experiment
Positives of freuds theory of psyche
Contributed to research about crime and behaviour
I’d, ego, superego relate to different parts of the brain, their functions and development
Negatives of freuds study
Difficulty of testing concepts such as the unconscious mind
Unscientific and lack objective interpretation
Lack of quantitative date
Positives of eydencks personality type
Predicted traumatised soldiers would score high on neurotic
May be possible to intervene at an early age to prevent such development
Formed basis of modern personality tests
Negatives of eysencks theory
Lack of reliability
Relies on self report measures
Suggests personality is only generator
