Individualistic Theories of Criminal Behaviour

Question 1

To copy someone.

Answer 1

Imitation

Question 2

Learning through the actions and consequences of others.

Answer 2

Vicarious Reinforcement

Question 3

Modelling

Answer 3

Role Models

Question 4

A reward for a desired behaviour e.g. praise.

Answer 4

Positive Sanctions

Question 5

Punishment for non-desired behaviour e.g., detention.

Answer 5

Negative Sanctions

Question 6

Believed that people learn by watching the behaviour of others. If children watch an adult gaining pleasure from an activity or being punished for an activity then they will either repeat or reject those behaviours. He used the example of the Bobo doll.

Answer 6

Bandura - Social Learning Theory

Question 7

The idea that our personality contains powerful forces that makes us act the way that we do.

Answer 7

Psychodynamic Theories

Question 8

Argued that there are 3 different personality types: ID, Superego, and Ego.

Answer 8

Freud - Personality Types

Question 9

-100% unconscious
-They are driven by innate needs such as food, shelter, warmth and sex.
-‘Devil on shoulder’
-Most likely to have impulsive behaviour, so more likely to commit crime.

Answer 9

ID

Question 10

-Mostly unconscious
-Moral principle: must never do ‘wrong’, ‘guilt, guilt, guilt’
-Balances the demand of the ID and the anxieties.
-‘Angel on shoulder’

Answer 10

Superego

Question 11

-Mostly conscious
-The ‘Executive’
-Reality principle: balances the demands of ID, superego , and reality
-Governed by the need to behave in ways our parents would approve.

Answer 11

Ego

Question 12

Believed that criminality is linked to a person’s personality type, some personality types are more likely to commit crime because they crave excitement, but are slow to learn that crime has negative consequences.

Answer 12

Eysenck - Crime Personality Theory

Question 13

Needs stimulation, sociable but bored easily (outgoing and impulsive).

Answer 13

Extroverts

Question 14

Anxious and irrational (moody and depressed).

Answer 14

Neurotic

Question 15

Reliable and in control of emotions, not sociable (serious and reliable).

Answer 15

Introverts

Question 16

Calm and emotionally in control (calm and controlled).

Answer 16

Stable

Question 17

Less guilt feelings and more likely to act on ID’s urges.

Answer 17

Weak Superego

Question 18

Craves punishment to release guilt feelings.

Answer 18

Harsh Superego

Question 19

Successful socialisation but into deviant moral code.

Answer 19

Deviant Superego

Question 20

The main person who looks after a child.

Answer 20

The main carer

Question 21

Describes the relationship between child and primary carer.

Answer 21

Attachment

Question 22

Inability to form meaningful relationships as a result of broken attachment before the age of 5.

Answer 22

Affectionless psychopathy.

Question 23

Learning through experience to seek pleasure (rewards) and avoid pain (punishments).

Answer 23

Conditioning

Question 24

Having a personality that is cruel, insensitive, aggressive and lacking in empathy.

Answer 24

Pyschoticism

Question 25

We acquire criminal skills through observing those around us.

Answer 25

Imitation

Question 26

Socialisation within a group teaches them attitudes and values about the law.

Answer 26

Learned attitudes

Question 27

Behaviour is strengthened by a positive outcome (reward).

Answer 27

Positive Reinforcement

Question 28

Behaviour is strengthened by removing an undesirable outcome.

Answer 28

Negative Reinforcement

Question 29

People whose behaviour we imitate.

Answer 29

Role Models