Individuaistic Theories Of Crime

Question 1

Individualist theiry of crime

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Learning theory- bandura

Answer 2

Criminal behaviour is learnt by watching others

Question 3

Learning theory experiment

Answer 3

Bobo doll- demonstrate that when children exposed to aggressiveness they copy

Question 4

Learning theory example

Answer 4

Jamie Buldger case- Thompson and vennables left to play violent video games all day

Question 5

What did Sutherland say

Answer 5

People learn their values and technique for criminal behaviour from association with different people

Question 6

Bobo doll findings

Answer 6

One set of adults were hitting the doll and children’s watched, when left alone they copied

Question 7

Psychodynamic theories - Freud

Answer 7

Examine people’s early childhood experiences. Our behaviour and thinking is unconscious

Question 8

Freud said brain divided into 3 parts

Answer 8

ID- instinct, selfish, animalistic
Ego- sensible, rational,
Superego- morality conscionce

Question 9

What did Freud said can cause change in behaviour

Answer 9

If any of the 3 parts of the brain become unbalanced

Question 10

What happens if ID dominates

Answer 10

Mind may be uncontrollable

Question 11

What happens if superego is dominant

Answer 11

May be driven to be a perfectionist and become judgemental

Question 12

What happens if ego is dominant

Answer 12

Incapable of accepting change and unable to be flexible in their approach

Question 13

What was Bowlbys study

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Psychological theories - Eysenck

Answer 14

Certain personality types lead to commit crime

Question 15

Eysencks study

Answer 15

700 soldiers treated for neurotic disorders and found most extroverts

Question 16

Extraversion

Answer 16

Outgoing, socially confident person. Seek stimulation from outside word.

Question 17

Introvert

Answer 17

Focus on more internal thoughts, feelings

Question 18

Neuroticism

Answer 18

Low self confidence, irritable, moody. Respond fearfully to new intimidating situations

Question 19

Stability

Answer 19

Calm and in control of emotions

Question 20

Useful if eysencks study

Answer 20

Supported by research.

Formed basis of many modern tests that try predict behaviour

Question 21

Negatives of eysencks study

Answer 21

Too simplistic
Relies on honesty of participants
Says personality is solely genetic
Subjective answers
Not all extroverts are criminals

Question 22

Positives of banduras learning theory

Answer 22

The bobo doll showed model had effect on child’s behaviour
Variables were controlled
Replicated study with slight changes and similar results

Question 23

Negatives of banduras study

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Positives of freuds theory of psyche

Answer 24

Contributed to research about crime and behaviour

I’d, ego, superego relate to different parts of the brain, their functions and development

Question 25

Negatives of freuds study

Answer 25

Difficulty of testing concepts such as the unconscious mind
Unscientific and lack objective interpretation
Lack of quantitative date

Question 26

Positives of eydencks personality type

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Negatives of eysencks theory

Answer 27

Lack of reliability
Relies on self report measures
Suggests personality is only generator