Individual Differences in Crime Flashcards
Give 2 examples of biological explanations for individual differences in crime.
1) Eysenck
2) Freudian theory
Define ‘extrovert’.
Someone who is outgoing and sociable.
What is the ARAS?
Ascending Reticular Activating System
Why would an extrovert be more likely to commit a crime?
Their ARAS favours inhibition of stimulation and so are often under-aroused by a situation and so they seek more thrilling activities that may lead to criminal behaviour such as theft.
Define ‘neuroticism’.
Someone who is unstable and may overreact.
What is the ANS?
Autonomic Nervous System
Why would someone who is neurotic be more likely to commit a crime?
The ANS is responsible for fight or flight and so someone who reacts strongly to a situation may lash out due to emotional instability and so may commit an impulse crime such as murder.
Define ‘psychoticism’.
Someone who lacks empathy and is manipulative.
Why would someone who is psychotic be more likely to commit a crime?
They lack empathy and also psychotic episodes has shown to involve an increase in testosterone (which is correlated with aggression) and so may lead to violent crimes such as domestic abuse.
Give 2 strengths of Eysenck’s personality theory.
1) Less reductionist due to considering both social and biological factors
2) Rushton supports as found that there is a relationship between high E and P scores and delinquency
Give 2 weaknesses of Eysenck’s personality theory.
1) Low validity due to self-report data on the questionnaire leading to social desirability
2) Rushton didn’t find a relationship between a high N score and delinquency
Define the ‘id’.
The part of personality that seeks immediate gratification for basic urges.
Define the ‘ego’.
The part of personality that aims to satisfy the urges of the id.
Define the ‘superego’.
The part of the personality that controls the satisfaction of urges within the constraints of society and morals.
Why might someone be a criminal, according to Freudian theory?
If someone has a weak superego they may not be able to control the urges of the id in a way that conforms to society and so may lead to going against the law through crimes such as theft and murder.
Why else might Freudian theory explain criminal behaviour?
Catharsis is the emotional release of unconscious conflicts and so someone who continues to repress their conflicts then this may lead to an outburst of aggressive behaviour and so result in violent crimes.
Give 2 strengths of Freudian theory.
1) Freud uses lots of qualitative data and so is more valid
2) Practical application as allowed for methods to treat mental disorders that could apply to the treatments of criminals
Give 2 weaknesses of Freudian theory.
1) Data is largely from case studies and dream analysis which leads to high subjectivity from interpretation and so less valid
2) Hoffman’s said female criminals are low and so refutes Freud’s idea of women having no morals due to weaker superegos
Give an example of social explanations for individual differences in crime.
Self-fulfilling prophecy
What 2 factors determine whether or not your are given a label?
1) Being considered a minority
2) Displaying behaviour going against social norms
Define ‘self-efficacy’.
The ability of an individual believing they can do something.
How might self-efficacy impact upon whether a prophecy is fulfilled?
Low self-efficacy may result in a label becoming true as an individual doesn’t have enough will power to refute it.
How does SFP link to criminality?
Someone may be given the false label of a criminal due to a stereotype that affects their self-concept and so may question their self-identity leading to a feeling that they may as well adhere to what people have been labelling them as and so may go on to commit a crime.
Give 2 strengths of SFP.
1) Johoda found that 22% of Wednesday (name meaning aggression) boys in Ashanti were criminals compared to 7% of Monday boys (name meaning placid)
2) Practical application of the ASBO getting abolished due to people being labelled as deviant becoming more deviant due to liking the label and so this highlights how labels are bad
Give 2 weaknesses of SFP.
1) The supporting study of Rosenthal and Jacobsen lack generalisability to criminals due to student performance not equating to SFP in criminals
2) Fuller found that black girls in London were labelled as likely to fail and proved them wrong by succeeding
