Individualistic Theories

Question 1

Name all individualistic theories

Answer 1

Psychodynamic theories
Eyesncks personality theory
Learning theories
Cognitive theories

Question 2

Phsychoanalysis

Answer 2

Theorist-Freud
Theory- early childhood experience determine our personality and future behaviour.
The Id-pleasure seeking, selfish
The superego- conscious, morals
The ego- balance between the id and superego
If something affects the superego criminality is the result.
Examples;
Weakly developed superego
Too harsh and unforgiving superego
Deviant superego

Question 3

Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory

Answer 3

Influenced by Freud.
Idea that if a mother-child attachment is broken it can leave a child unstable and unable to attain emotional relationships. (Affectionless psychopathy)

Exp- study of 44 juvenile thieves. He found that 39% of them suffered from maternal deprivation compared to the 5% of non-delinquents

Question 4

Eysenck’s personality theory

Answer 4

Eysenck argues that criminality is the result of a particular personality type.
Extraverted, Introverted, Neurotic
Criminals scores high on both N and E
Later added psychoticism

Question 5

Sutherland differential association theory

Answer 5

Sutherland argues that individuals learn criminal behaviour from family and peer groups. This is through imitation and learned attitudes.

Question 6

Social learning theory

Answer 6

Theorist-Bandura et al
Theory- we learn much of our behaviour from ‘models’ by imitating them.
Exp- Bobo doll Children who saw the model being rewarded for aggressive behaviour imitated this behaviour

Question 7

Criminal Personality Theory

Answer 7

Theorists-Yochelson and Samenow
Theory-criminals are prone to faulty thinking making them more likely to commit crime
Exp- long term study of 240 male offenders most of whom had been committed to a psychiatric hospital

Question 8

Kohlberg’s moral development theory