Individualistic Theories Flashcards
What are the individualistic theory’s
Freuds Phycoanalysis
Eyesencks personality theory
Bandurad social learning theory
Skinners operant conditioning
What is the phcodynamic theory
Frueds Phycoanalysis
What is the phycological theory
Eyesencks personality theory
What are the learning theory’s
Bandits social learning theory
Skinners operant conditioning
Describe frueds theory
ID: Present at birth and operates on the pleasure
principle – it gets what it wants.
SUPEREGO: Develops around the age of 5 years old
and it works on the morality principle. It represents
the moral standards of the same-sex parent and is
responsible for guilt.
EGO: Develops at around the age of two and it works on the reality
principle. It reduces conflict between the ID & SUPEREGO using
defence mechanisms.
Freud’s theory of criminal behaviour
According to Freud criminal behaviour is caused by an abnormal
relationship with parents during early childhood which can result
in a weak, over-harsh, or deviant superego.
Evaluate frueds theory
Freud points to the importance of early socialisation and family
relationships in understanding criminal behaviour. This has
influenced later criminological theories that link childhood trauma,
neglect, or abuse to criminal tendencies.
Freud’s ideas have contributed to therapeutic interventions for
offenders, such as psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, which aim
to uncover hidden psychological conflicts that may drive criminal
behavior. Treating the root causes of crime rather than just
punishing the act can reduce recidivism.
Freud’s theory is difficult to test scientifically, as concepts like the
unconscious mind and the id, ego, and superego cannot be directly
observed or measured. This makes the theory less reliable
compared to more evidence-based criminological theories.
The theory is deterministic as it suggests that individuals with
unresolved childhood conflicts or a weak superego are almost
destined to become criminals, reducing the role of free will and
personal responsibility.
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1. 2. 3. Freud’s approach focuses on individual psychology rather than
broader societal influences like poverty, peer pressure, and
systemic inequality, which are crucial in understanding crime
Describe Eyesencks theory
Hans Eysenck (1916-1997) developed a
method of ‘measuring’ personality
characteristics using a questionnaire. The
questionnaire measures three personality
features:
Psychoticism vs. socialisation (P scale)
Extraversion vs introversion (E scale)
Neuroticism vs stability (N scale)
Eysenck’s theory of criminal behaviour
Eysenck argues that criminality is caused by a particular
personality type. He sees personalities as extraversion versus
introversion (E for short) and neuroticism versus emotional
stability (N for short). Everyone falls somewhere on these two
aspects.
Extraverts have excitement-seeking, impulsive, optimistic, often
aggressive and unreliable personalities, whereas introverts are
quiet, self-controlled, pessimistic and reliable. Neurotics are
anxious, moody, often depressed c and tend to over-react, while
emotionally stable personalities are calm, unworried and even-
tempered. Eysenck measured these traits using a questionnaire,
ranking people on E and N scales. He found that by comparison
with non-criminals, criminals tend to be strongly extraverted
and neurotic (high E and high N).
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Extraverts inherit a nervous system that needs high levels of
stimulation, so they are constantly seeking excitement, which
leads them to act impulsively, take risks and break rules/ laws.
This is likely to lead to punishment.
Those with a neurotic personality are harder to condition
because their high anxiety level means they can’t learn from
punishment for their mistakes.
Later, Eysenck added another dimension to his criminal
personality type, the psychotic personality. According to
Eysenck, psychotics are cruel, insensitive misfits who lack
empathy and are often schizophrenic. They are harder to
condition.
So criminal personalities are liable to break the law but then
can’t change their behaviour when punished for it.
Evaluate Eyesencks theory
Unlike Freud’s theory, Eysenck’s model is based on measurable
personality traits that can be assessed using psychometric tests.
This makes his theory more scientifically testable. Later studies by
Farrington showed that prisoners scored highly on the N and P
scale (but not the E scale).
The theory explains why some offenders repeatedly commit
crimes. If criminals have personality traits that make them
resistant to conditioning, rehabilitation programs must focus on
behavior modification rather than punishment alone.
Eysenck’s model reduces personality to three dimensions, which
may be too simplistic to fully explain the complexities of human
behavior and criminality.
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Eysenck used self-report questionnaires, which may not produce
valid results; people may lie, exaggerate, or misunderstand
questions.
The theory focuses heavily on personality factors while largely
ignoring external influences such as upbringing, peer pressure,
socioeconomic status, and cultural background, all of which play
significant roles in criminal behavior.
Describe banduras theory
Learning theories are based on the assumption that offending is a
set of behaviours that are learned in the same way as other
behaviours.
Albert Bandura’s social learning theory proposes the idea that
people will learn from those around them. People often do this by
observing their peers and family and using their conduct as a
model that is then imitated.
Children are often most influenced by the adults around them and
will imitate behaviours or reject certain behaviours based on the
consequences they see for those adults. For example, if an adult
enjoys a particular activity, a child may imitate this to experience
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the same pleasure; whereas if an adult is punished for a particular
activity, a child is less likely to imitate the behaviour. This is known
as observational learning and can take place within the family, via
the media and in sub-cultures.
A summary of the Bobo doll experiment
Modelled aggression was illustrating in Bandura’s bobo doll
experiment. A series of tests were conducted involving a bobo
doll.
The experiment involved exposing children to two different adult
models: an aggressive model and a non-aggressive model. The
aggressive model were seen to kick and pummel the doll and also
hit it with a mallet and throw it in the air.
After witnessing the adults behaviour the children would be
placed in a room without the model and were observed to see if
they would imitate the behaviours they had witnessed.
Children exposed to the aggressive modelling imitated hostile
language and increased their attraction to guns.
Evaluate banduras theory
Unlike Skinner, Bandura takes into account that humans are social
beings. Our behaviour is shaped from the experience of others
such as family, peers and the media not just our own direct
experience.
Bandura showed that children who observed aggressive behaviour
being rewarded imitated that behaviour. This shows the
importance of role models. Other studies on juvenile delinquency
show that children raised in violent households or crime-ridden
communities are more likely to engage in criminal acts.
Social learning theory downplays the role of biological
predispositions in crime, such as genetics, brain structure, and
personality traits (e.g., Eysenck’s psychoticism).
Human’s have free will and can choose their course of action.
Many people observe violence or crime but do not imitate it,
suggesting other factors (e.g., personality, morality, intelligence)
influence behavior.
The study was conducted in laboratories, the fact the setting was
artificial may mean that the theory does not have real-world
application.
Describe skinners theory
Bandura’s social learning theory suggests that we learn
behaviour & crime indirectly through observing another person
be rewarded and/or punished, and imitating that behaviour
Whereas Skinner’s operant learning theory suggests we learn
directly through reward and punishment (Skinner’s operant
conditioning)
If a certain behaviour results in a reward (positive reinforcement)
it is more likely to be repeated. Whereas if a behaviour results in a
punishment (negative reinforcement) it is unlikely to be repeated.
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Skinner’s ‘rat box’ study
In a Skinner box experiment, a rat or pigeon is placed in a
controlled space with a lever and a food dispenser. At first, the
animal moves around randomly until it accidentally presses the
lever and gets food, teaching it to press the lever more often.
Whereas, if pressing the lever stopped something bad, like an
electric shock, the animal would learn to press it more (negative
reinforcement). But if pressing the lever made something good go
away, like heat, the animal would learn to avoid it (negative
punishment).
Linking Skinner’s Operant Conditioning to crime
Skinner’s study applies to a wide range of criminal acts, for
example: White-collar crime (financial fraud due to financial
rewards). Gang violence (status and power as reinforcement).
Drug dealing (monetary gain and social recognition). Whereas, if
someone receives a punishment for these acts they are going to
be less likely to repeat it in the future.
Evaluate skinners theory
A later study by Jeffery links Skinner’s theory to criminality stating
that if crime leads to more rewarding than punishing outcomes,
they will be more likely to offend.
The theory has practical applications in crime prevention.
Punishment (prison sentences, fines, and social stigma) can deter
crime. Whereas positive reinforcement (job opportunities,
rehabilitation programs, and rewards for good behavior) can
encourage lawful behavior.
Unlike some theories that mainly apply to violent crime (e.g.,
Freud, Eysenck), Skinner’s theory can explain a wide range of
criminal acts, including white collar crimes and drug dealing.
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Human’s have free will and can choose their course of action. The
theory implies that people passively respond to rewards and
punishments, ignoring the fact that criminals often think, plan, and
make conscious choices before committing crimes.
Skinner’s theory was based on a study conducted on animals. This
is not an adequate model of how humans learn criminal
behaviour.
While Skinner’s theory focuses on individual behavior, it ignores
the influence of wider social factors such as poverty and lack of
opportunities (which push people toward crime).
