Individualistic Theories of Crime Flashcards
Summarise Bandura’s social learning theory.
He states we learn our behaviour through observation and imitation.
What is it called when someone learns a behaviour is unacceptable through observing others being punished for it?
Vicarious reinforcement
What is the bobo doll experiment?
A study carried out by Bandura in order to investigate the extent in which children would imitate the aggressive behaviour of adults.
He had two groups of children. the first group watched an adult show aggression towards a bobo doll and the other was shown non-aggressive behaviour.
Then children were then placed in a room individually and alone with a bobo doll.
Every child who had watched the adult being violent copied much of what they saw.
Give 2 weaknesses of Bandura’s social learning theory.
Ignores the role of other factors- like biological ones
The bobo doll experiment is highly unethical- the experiment exposes children to violence with the expectation they will imitate it- counter intuitive.
What is operant conditioning and who is the person related to it?
B.F Skinner
Suggests that behaviours can be conditioned through the use of rewards and punishments. Operant conditioning forms an association between a behaviour and a consequence.
Positive and negative reinforcement
He stated that if a behaviour resulted in a reward, it would be repeated. This is because the individual learns performing the action will result in a reward.
Summarise Eysenck’s PEN Model of Personality theory
Eysenck believed that an individual’s personality type can lead to them being more likely to become a criminal. He had 3 personality dimensions that he used to assess people’s personalities:
Introversion/ Extraversion
Neuroticism/ Stable
Psychoticism
What does the PEN in Eysenck’s PEN model of personality mean?
P = Psychotic E = Extraverted N = Neurotic
People with the PEN personality are more likely to be criminal, as they like taking risks and most likely find it hard to control their impulses. Extraverts that are bored more easily may seek crime for the ‘thrill’
Neurotic individuals may be more reactive and impulsive, acting on their emotions- this could therefore lead to crime.
Psychotic individuals can be aggressive and antisocial, and fail to adopt social norms.
Give 2 strengths of Eysenck’s theory
Eysenck’s research on soldiers in hospitals supported his theory. He predicted the most traumatised soldiers would score high on neurotic.
His personality testing has formed the basis of many modern personality tests that try to predict people’s behaviour in different situations, for example psychometric tests.
Give 2 weaknesses of Eysenck’s theory
The theory suggests that personality is genetic and fails to consider that it may change over time
Research in this area relies on self-report measures about a person’s view of their personality. This can result in biased or deliberately false answers.
What did Freud mean by the Id?
The id functions on the pleasure principle, focuses on instant gratification and doesn’t think through consequences. Its the impulsive, primitive part of the mind. When you are born your mind is all id, and then you later develop an ego and a superego.
What did Freud mean by the Ego?
The ego operates on the reality principle, striving to satisfy the id’s desires in a realistic, socially acceptable way. It is the rational, controlled part of the mind.
What did Freud mean by the Superego?
The superego is the mind’s moral conscience. It controls the impulses of the id and persuades the ego to act morally. For example, the superego could make a person feel guilt if the ego gives in to the id’s impulses and desires.
Summarise Freud’s Psychodynamic theory
A healthy personality needs a balance between the id, ego and the superego. unresolved conflict between the three parts results in a disturbed personality. If the id is the part that dominates, the mind would be uncontrollable, and therefore lead to criminality.
According to Freud, a child needs a stable home environment in order to successfully transition from the pleasure principle to the reality principle.
Give 2 strengths of Freud’s theory
Provides a good insight into how people think, and why they think the way they do
Started off important research - still viewed as a core influence within Psychology
Give 2 weaknesses of Freud’s theory
Ignores the role of other factors, like sociological factors- Reductionist
Cant prove or test the existence of the unconscious mind, the id, ego and superego
Explain what Bowlby meant by maternal deprivation.
Maternal deprivation = when an individual does not have a motherly figure in their life, or did not.
Bowlby links maternal deprivation in early life, to deviant or anti-social behaviour.
What can maternal deprivation cause?
Failure to develop a secure attachment can lead to an individual developing ‘affectionless psychopathy’
Affectionless psychopathy is when an individual doesn’t feel empathy or guilt, which can easily lead to criminality.
What does psychodynamic mean and what theories apply to it?
Psychodynamic theories focus on the interaction of drives and forces (instincts) within a person- particularly within the unconscious mind
They emphasise the importance of early experiences in childhood, and how this impacts our later life and the development of our personality.
What is a learning theory and what theories fall under that category?
Learning theories are theories about how we learn our behaviour.
The theories suggest criminality or crime is something that individuals learn through social interaction.
Bandura's Social Learning Theory Differential Association (Sutherland) Operant Conditioning (Skinner)
What is meant by the term psychological and what theories apply to it?
Psychology is the study of the how the mind works and why people do what they do
Related to the mental and emotional state of a person
What study did Eysenck do?
He analysed 700 responses to a personality questionnaire completed by soldiers (who were being treated for neurotic disorders)
Using the responses, he identified 2 dimensions of personality- he later developed the third (psychoticism)
What happens if someone doesn’t progress from the pleasure principle to the reality principle?
Children need to progress from the pleasure principle (where the id is dominant) to the reality principle (where the ego is dominant). If they do not progress from the pleasure principle, they will need instant gratification. The lack of the reality principle would lead to criminality
They will still be focused on instant gratification and wouldn’t consider the consequences of their actions, leading to criminality.
Give a case study that can be applied to one of these individualistic theories.
Robert Napper
- Convicted of 2 murders, 1 manslaughter and several rapes
- He witnessed his father’s violence against his mother at a young age.
Bandura’s Social Learning Theory- he may have observed the aggressive behaviour from his father, thought it was acceptable, and then imitated it ( commit the crimes)
Define psychodynamic.
Which of these individualistic theories are psychodynamic theories?
Psychodynamic theories focus on the interaction of drives and forces within a person- particularly within the unconscious mind
According to psychodynamic theorists, these drives and forces (instincts) influence our behaviour. Additionally, they emphasise the importance of early experiences in childhood, and how this impacts our later life and the development of our personality.
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
Evidence: Bowlby- Maternal Deprivation
Define psychological.
Which of these individualistic theory is a psychological theory?
Psychology is the study of the how the mind works and why people do what they do
Related to the mental and emotional state of a person
Psychodynamic theories are mainly about childhood
Eysenck’s PEN Model of Personality.
How effective are individualistic theories in general?
Ignores the role of other factors, like biological ones.
What is mean by the Freud ‘iceburg metaphor’?
How does it relate to the id, ego and superego?
Freud also believed that there were levels of consciousness beyond just conscious and unconscious.
What is Sutherland’s Differential association theory?
Sutherland stated that individuals learn criminal behaviour through peer/ family influence, however it is more complex that the simple imitation/ mimicry of others
Individuals learn values, attitudes, techniques and motives for criminal behaviour, if they socialise with more people who find crime favourable, then unfavourable
Individuals commit crime, when they spend time with people who favour criminal behaviour.
Who you spend time with helps to shape your own attitudes and values.
Give two strengths of Sutherland’s Theory
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Give two weaknesses of Sutherland’s Theory
Criticism of Sutherland’s Differential Association theory includes the assumption that Sutherland was suggesting the mere interaction with criminals would lead an individual to criminal behaviour.
Give two strengths of Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation theory.
Supports Freud- Both link unstable home life to criminal behaviour
Could be used to intervene potential criminals
Give two weaknesses of Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation theory.
Not everyone who has maternal deprivation/ affectionless psychopathy is a criminal.
Single parents?!?!?!?!
Give 2 strengths of Bandura’s Social Learning Theory
The bobo doll experiment showed the model who exibited the aggressive behaviour had a significant effect on the children
The study ahs been replicated, with slight cahnges, and similar results have been found
