Individualistic theories of Criminality Flashcards
What are the three individualistic theories of criminality?
- Learning theory - social learning theory (Bandura)
- Psychodynamic theory - theory of personality (Freud)
- Psychological theory - personality theory (Eysenck)
Who was the main theorist behind social learning theory?
Albert Bandura. He believed that people learnt by watching the behaviour of others.
Describe Bandura’s bobo doll experiment.
In 1963, Bandura exposed children to two different adult models: aggressive and non-aggressive. The aggressive model adults kicked and hit the bobo dolls in front of children. Children were then observed in a room on their own with the bobo dolls to see if they would imitate the behaviour they had witnessed earlier. The experiment found that children exposed to the aggressive adults tended to copy the behaviour, and even come up with new ways to hurt the dolls. Children who watched the non-aggressive adults demonstrated less aggression towards the bobo dolls.
The observational learning that Bandura describes takes place primarily in three ways…
- Through family
- Through peers
- Through pop culture, such as television and books
Which later study supports Bandura’s social learning theory?
Sutherland et al., 1992 advances Bandura’s theory. it suggests that people learn their values and techniques for criminal behaviour from associations with different people or differential associations. If more favourable attitudes about crime are learned, rather than negatives, then people see criminal behaviour as acceptable. The learning experiences or differential associations (interactions with others) will vary in frequency and importance for each individual.
This theory accounts for the high reoffending rate of released prisoners in our country. While in prison criminals learn from those around them - ‘universities of crime’.
Give three strengths of Bandura’s social learning theory
- The bobo doll experiment consistently showed children copying adult’s actions. Cause and effect.
- Bandura’s controls were varied, including different genders of the subjects and the actions performed by the model, so they allow a greater accuracy.
- The study has been replicated with slight changes and similar results have been found.
Give four weaknesses of Bandura’s social learning theory.
- The bobo doll experiment is a laboratory study. It puts a child and an adult model in a very limited social situation, and the child and model are strangers to one another. This contradicts the idea that modelling typically takes place within the family were children are familiar with the models.
- There are ethical issues with Bandura’s experiment as the children weren’t safeguarded from psychological harm, despite knowing that they would be exposed to aggression with the expectation that they would imitate it.
- Studies by Cumberbatch (1997) found that children are less likely to copy adult strangers compared to parents.
- Cumberbatch also found that children who hadn’t played with a bobo doll before were five times more likely to imitate the model than those that were already familiar with the doll. The novelty aspect of the doll made them more likely to follow the adult.
According to Freud’s psychodynamic theory the psyche is made up of…
- the id - primitive, controls our selfish and animalistic urges
- the ego - looks for logic, rationality and sensible control
- the superego - our moral ‘conscience’
What beliefs is Freud’s psychodynamic theory based around?
Freud believed the best way to understand behaviour was to examine early childhood experiences and that criminality was linked to guilt. He suggested that much of our mind was in an unconscious region, similar to an iceberg where only the tip can be seen. It’s our unconscious mind that controls behaviour, including criminality.
How did Freud suggest psyche was linked to criminality?
Freud suggested that human beings need to develop their psyche from id-centred (needing instant gratification) to develop a more dominant ego (rational and sensible control). A healthy personality needs a balance between all three parts. If the id dominates, the mind may be uncontrollable and this might lead to criminality.
What did John Bowlby’s 1944 study look at?
Bowlby, 1994 looked at maternal deprivation by studying 44 juvenile delinquents and comparing them with non-criminal disturbed juveniles. Of the delinquents, 39% had experienced complete separation from their mothers for six months or more during the first five years of their lives compared with 5% of the control group.
Give three strengths of Freud’s psychodynamic theory
- Psychodynamic theories have contributed to research about crime and behaviour. Research has found links between adverse childhood experiences and criminality
- Freud’s id, ego and superego actually relate to different parts of the brain. The limbic system is the brain’s emotion centre, like the id. The pre-frontal cortex is responsible for rational decision making, just like the ego
- Just because Freud’s theories sound odd or unusual doesn’t make them automatically wrong.
Give three weaknesses of Freud’s psychodynamic theory
- Psychodynamic theories of offending have now been discredited by psychologists as it’s very difficult to test concepts such as the unconscious mind.
- These theories are very unscientific and lack objective interpretation. It is a very subjective process where different analysts may draw different conclusions.
- There is a lack of quantitative data from Freud’s cases studies. Freud would psychoanalyse his patients who he had built relations with, rather than studying strangers, so he couldn’t be objective.
Who was the main theorist behind personality theory?
Hans Eysenck
How did Eysenck believe personality was linked to crime?
Eysenck believed certain personality types were more likely to commit crime because they crave excitement, but are slow to learn that crime has bad consequences.
