Individualistic Theories

Question 1

Key idea of individualistic theories?

Answer 1

Individualistic theories suggest there are certain individual characteristics and experiences that predispose people to criminality.

Question 2

Bowlby theory of maternal deprivation

Answer 2

Bowlby states that when we are babies we need constant nurture from our mother/caregiver as it is essential for normal psychological development.

Therefore, being separated or deprived from the mother in early childhood after an attachment has formed can have serious consequences

Question 3

Bowlby- critical period

Answer 3

Bowlby states that the first 30 months of life act as a critical period for psychological development.

If a child is deprived of their mothers emotional care for an extended time during this critical period, psychological damage is inevitable. This then causes various effects of the child’s development…

Question 4

Bowlby- effects on development.

Answer 4

Low IQ
delayed emotional development
Affection less psychopathy

Question 5

What type of theory is bowlby’s theory?

Answer 5

Psychodynamic

Question 6

Behaviourist theory

Answer 6

Is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviours are learnt. - through interactions with the environment.

Question 7

Behaviourist- operant conditioning

Answer 7

Operant conditioning is based on the consequences of behaviour. There are three important consequences:

Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Punishment

Question 8

Behaviourist- positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement

Answer 8

Positive- involves receiving something good for an action which reinforces or encourages the behaviour to be repeated.

Negative- involves repeating an action in order to avoid or remove the consequences of that action.

Question 9

Behaviourist- punishment

Answer 9

Involves a negative event following an action which makes you less likely to repeat the action again.

Not the same as negative reinforcement

Question 10

Behaviourist- what type of theory?

Answer 10

Learning theory

Question 11

Social learning theory

Answer 11

While behaviourist theory suggests that behaviour is learned directly (experiences), social learning theory believed that learning could also take place indirectly through OBSERVATION and IMITATION of ROLE MODELS.

Question 12

Social learning theory- evaluation

Answer 12

Strengths- the bobo doll study showed that children learnt how to behave towards the doll through observation and vicarious reinforcement. Copied.

Weaknesses- there are ethical issues with the study as the children were exposed to aggression.

Question 13

How does differential association theory support social learning theory?

Answer 13

It says that criminal learn values and techniques for crime by associating with different types of people (other criminals in prison).

Question 14

Freud’s theory

Answer 14

Freud believed that we can understand human behaviour best by examining early childhood experiences. He had a theory of personality which can be related to crime.

Key points-
crime is linked to guilt
A large part of our mind is an ‘’unconscious region’’ and this unconscious part controls criminal behaviour.

Question 15

Freud’s theory- the three parts of our mind

Answer 15

ID- controls selfish and aggressive urges. It is instinctual and follows the pleasure principle. At birth.

SUPEREGO- our moral conscience. Based on morality principle. Is responsible for our feelings of guilt and shame. Age five.

EGO- works on the reality principle. It’s role is to reduce conflict between the demands of the id and superego. Age two.

Question 16

Freud’s theory- how does criminal behaviour occur?

Answer 16

Criminal behaviour results from an imbalance between the three parts of the personality. If the ID is dominant, it can lead to criminal behaviour. In normal circumstances, the EGO will take control over the ID. However, if the SUPEREGO is not strong enough, then criminal behaviour is inevitable as the ID is not controlled.

Question 17

Freud’s theory- the three types of weak superego

Answer 17

Weak superego- same sex parent is absent. The child has no one to identify with. Morality does not develop fully.
Deviant superego- parent is a criminal. Their weak sense of morality is projected onto the child. Leads to them not associating crime with guilt.
Over harsh superego- child is severely punished. Unconsciously Does crime to satisfy need for punishment and feelings of guilt.

Question 18

Freud’s theory- evaluation

Answer 18

Strengths- led to successful treatments for criminals eg. Psychoanalysis (mental health).

Weaknesses-
Theory was gender biased- he said that girls had a weaker superego than boys (not supported by prison statistics- males in uk prisons: 79,749. Females in uk prisons: 3869

Question 19

Freud’s theory- what type of theory?

Answer 19

Psychodynamic

Question 20

Eysenck’s theory of personality

Answer 20

Eysenck proposed that behaviour could be represented along two dimensions- introversion/extroversion and neuroticism/stability.

The two dimensions combine to form a variety of personality characteristics. He then also added a THIRD dimension- PSYCHOTICISM.

Question 21

Eysenck’s theory- the three types of personality that link to crime

Answer 21

Eysenck thought that the most likely personality type that linked with criminality was being

Highly neurotic- unstable and easily changeable
Highly extroverted- they seek more stimulation so engage in dangerous activities
Highly psychotic- they are aggressive and lacking in empathy

Question 22

Eysenck’s theory- how did he test wether you had these traits?

Answer 22

He used a personality test which gave you a percentage of how neurotic, psychotic and extroverted you are.

Eysenck believed that people who got high N and E scores on the personality test had nervous systems which made it difficult to be conditioned properly when they were growing up.

Question 23

Eysenck’s theory- evaluation

Answer 23

Strengths- in studies, people used control groups when gathering data so his theory has more validity.

Weakness- more criminal types have been identified. Therefore extroversion and neuroticism are not the only factors in a criminal personality

Question 24

Kohlberg’s theory of moral development

Answer 24

He stated that there were different stages of moral development:

Preconventional- punishment orientation and personal gain - children.

Conventional- good boy or good girl orientation and maintenance of social order (the law)- adults

Post conventional- difference between moral and legal rights. Morality of conscience.

Question 25

Kohlberg’s theory- moral dilemma

Answer 25

He used a moral dilemma technique which was the story of Heinz and his dying wife.

Should he steal the drug from the druggist or should he not?

Question 26

Kohlberg’s theory- which level are criminals in?

Answer 26

Criminals are in the pre conventional level- simple thinking / will they be rewarded by committing the crime?

Question 27

Kohlberg’s theory- evaluation

Answer 27

Strengths- evidence shows that criminals show less moral reasoning than non offenders.

Weakness- it just describes criminals, and it doesn’t suggest why they are criminals