individualistic theories Flashcards
Define Individualistic theories
Criminal behaviour is the result of an individuals failure to resolve these inner conflicts in a socially acceptable.
List the individualistic theories
Psychodynamic theories, psychoanalysis, Eysenck’s personality theory, bandura’s social learning theory, Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory, Kohlberg’s moral development theory, Sutherland’s differential association theory, Operant learning theory.
PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORIES
This theory views our personality as containing active forces that causes us to act as we do. The forces are powerful urges, feelings and conflicts within the unconscious mind.
Define Psychoanalysis
Founded by Sigmund Freud, he believed our early childhood experiences determine our personality and future behaviour.
Three elements of human personality
The id, the ego and the superego
Define the id
Located in the unconscious mind, contains powerful, selfish, pleasure-seeking, needs and drives, it’s governed by the pleasure principle.
Define superego
Contains our conscience or moral rules which we learn through interactions with our parents during early socialisation. A child internalises it’s parent’s ideas of right and wrong.
Define Ego
Ego’s role is to try to strike a balance between the conflicting demands of the id and superego, driven by the reality principle.
Define Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Theory
Argues that there is a link between maternal deprivation and deviant or anti-social behaviour. Sees children needing a close relationship with a primary carer.
Eysenck’s Personality Types
- Introvert: People who are shy and often withdrawn
- Extrovert: Outgoing confident people
Cognitive Theories
Explains criminal behaviour as a defect in moral thinking, thought processes, and mental development. Focuses on how people perceive the world and how this perception governs their actions, thoughts and emotions.
Criminal Personality Theory
Attributes criminal behaviour to a series of thought processes that evolve into what they describe as criminal thinking patterns inherent to criminals and not present in non criminals.
Kohlberg’s Moral Development Theory
Argues that our ideas of right and wrong develop through stages in life. In young stages they are based on moral principles and values.
LEARNING THEORIES
Emphasises three key features: criminal behaviour is learned behaviour, the influence of our immediate social environment, the key role of reinforcement and punishment in the learning process.
Sutherland’s Differential Association Theory
Argues that individuals learn criminal behaviour largely in the family and peer groups. It is a result of two factors: imitation of criminal acts, learning attitudes.
