Individualistic Theories Of Criminality Flashcards
Explain the Key idea of individualistic theories of crime
Key Idea: The workings of the human mind are the root cause of criminal behaviour
Explain how behavioural psychology explains criminality.
All behaviour is learnt.
Criminality is learnt through the environments and interactions with the people in it.
Explain the certain individual personality characteristics that predispose criminality
- Behaviourist Theories: rewards, punishment, role models and imitation.
- Psychological Theories: individual characteristics that are related to criminality.
- Psychodynamic Theories: childhood trauma and how it causes criminality.
[SKINNER] -Behaviourist Theories
Explain skinner’s theory.
Operant conditioning (Learning by consequence)
Rewards and punishments.
Reinforcements - Reinforced behaviour tends to be repeated.
Not reinforced behaviour tends to be extinguished.
[SKINNER]
Explain the Skinner Box
Rat accidentally hits the leavers and gets food. It learns =
The rat pulls the lever for food. (Rewarded for pulling lever) - Reinforced Behaviour
When rat pulls lever, it gets shocked through grid on the floor. - Not reinforced behaviour.
[SKINNER]
Explain Positive Reinforcement.
Reward.
Strengthens behaviour by providing a consequence an individual finds rewarding.
[SKINNER]
Explain Punishment.
Giving something unpleasant (Prison Sentence, etc) or removing something pleasant (freedom, etc)
[SKINNER]
Application to criminality.
Explain some negative and positive consequences of criminal behaviour.
Positive: The adrenaline rush, material gain (robbing), attention they receive (publicity)
Negative: Prison sentence, fines, death penalty.
[SKINNER]
Application to Criminality
Explain how the findings of the Skinner Box (Scientific Research) account for criminality.
If criminal behaviour results in a desirable outcome (reward) it is likely to be repeated.
If criminal behaviour results in undesirable outcome (punishment) it is unlikely to be repeated.
[SKINNER]
Explain the strengths of Skinner’s Theory.
+ Scientific research (An experiment carried out) - Skinner box.
+ Explains that if criminals aren’t punished harsh enough, it will increase the chance of reoffending.
+ Direct experience with the environment can lead to criminal behaviour (eg: media, family, friends)
[SKINNER]
Explain the weaknesses of Skinner’s Theory
- Some people choose to be criminals (Freewill)
- Ignores the nature side of the debate
- If some criminals haven’t had direct experience, why are they still criminal?
[BANDURA - SLT]
Behaviourist Theories
Explain what the social learning theory is.
Behaviour is learnt through imitation and modelling.
[BANDURA - SLT]
Behaviourist Theories
Explain the key idea of Bandura.
Key Idea: Learning can take place through observation and imitation of role models.
[BANDURA - SLT]
Behaviourist Theories
Explain how behaviour is imitated.
[A.R.R.M]
Attention - Child notices behaviour
Retention - Child remembers that behaviour
Reproduction - Child will reproduce similar behaviour
Motivation - depending on the outcome (punishment or reward) the child will repeat the behaviour.
((EG: When criminals go to prison with other criminals, they may imitate the bad behaviour))
[BANDURA - SLT]
Behaviourist Theories
Explain the three main factors that increase the likelihood of imitation.
- Status of the model - Same gender, age, how likeable, high status.
- Consequence of the action - if consequences are rewarding, it could lead to a higher chance of the child imitating that behaviour.
- Vicarious Reinforcement - Children will watch others imitate that behaviour and decide whether to imitate through the consequences. (Vicarious = Learning from observing others)
((Aggression can be learnt from observing others))
[BANDURA - SLT]
Behaviourist Theories
Explain the sample of the Bandura and the bobo doll experiment.
- Stanford University nursery.
- 36 boys and 36 girls (72)
- Aged between 3 and 6
- Pre-tested by nursery teacher and bandura. Ranked on four 5-point rating scale. Depending on aggression levels.
- Three different conditions (Aggressive model, non-aggressive model and control group.)
- 24 children in each condition
[BANDURA - SLT]
Behaviourist Theories
Explain the Method of the Bandura and the bobo doll experiment.
[BANDURA - SLT]
Behaviourist Theories
Explain 3 strengths of Bandura
+ There is research evidence to back up the SLT by Bandura where children imitated an aggressive role model
+ Demonstrates the rise of the media in encouraging violence, therefore had led to censorship and ratings being applied to video games & films
+Supports the nurture side of the debate but also highlights the nature side where the boys were more aggressive than the girls (possible due to testosterone)
[BANDURA - SLT]
Behaviourist Theories
Explain 3 weaknesses of Bandura
- Doesn’t include biological factors e.g: genetic predisposition
- Doesn’t relate to all crimes
- Research raises ethical issues of psychological harm & lack of consent
[BOWLBY -ATTACHMENT THEORY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain the key idea of Bowlby
Key Idea: Ability to form meaningful social relationships in adulthood was dependent on a close, warm and continuous relationship with the mother in the first few years
[BOWLBY - ATTACHMENT THEORY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain the ‘critical period’
First five years if life that is most crucial to socialisation
[FREUD - THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain the key idea of Psychodynamic theories
Our behaviour and feelings as adults are rooted in our childhood
Importance of memories and traumatic experiences that occurred during childhood.
These experiences are stored in the unconscious part of the mind.
[FREUD - THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS]
Psychodynamic Theories
Keyword: Explain what Neuroticism means
Neuroticism - people that tend to have more depressive moods and suffer from feelings of guilt, anxiety, anger and envy
[FREUD - THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS]
Psychodynamic Theories
What are the 3 levels of the ‘Iceberg Analogy’
- Conscious mind
- Pre-conscious mind
- Unconscious mind
[FREUD - THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain what the 3 levels of the ‘Iceberg Analogy
- Conscious mind - everything we were aware of. Everyday thoughts and perceptions. The ‘now’ in our mind.
- Pre-conscious mind - Ordinary memory. We can retrieve these memories if we think hard enough.
- Unconscious mind - Hidden feelings & memories. Trauma and unpleasant memories.
[FREUD - THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain how the unconscious mind can cause criminality
Repressed memories - repressed feelings is a product of our unconscious desires which build up and cause an outburst of criminal behaviour
[FREUD - THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS]
Psychodynamic Theories
What can repressed feelings lead to?
Anxiety
Trauma
Low self-esteem
[FREUD - THEORY OF PERSONALITY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain the three parts that our personality is divided into
They should all be balanced otherwise it can lead to criminality.
Id: Instincts [PLEASURE PRINCIPLE]
Selfish, primitive, sex and other forms of pleasurable activities.
May lead to aggression and violence.
Ego: Reality [REALITY PRINCIPLE]
Practical and realistic, reduces conflict between Id and SuperEgo.
SuperEgo: Morality [MORALITY PRINCIPLE]
Responsible for feelings of guilt and shame.
[FREUD - THEORY OF PERSONALITY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain the Ego’s defence mechanisms
Repression - Disturbing thoughts pushed to unconscious mind
Regression - Returning to early stage in life to cope with a situation
Displacement - The unconscious feeling are pushed onto another object
[FREUD - THEORY OF PERSONALITY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain how psychodynamic theories causes criminality
If a child has a traumatic experience and cannot move from the pleasure principle (Id dominant) to the reality principle (ego dominant) then these feelings are hidden far beneath the surface in the unconscious level of the mind and will ‘bubble’ under the surface as an adult until one day it ‘erupts’ just like a volcano.
[[CHILDREN NEED TO PROGRESS FROM THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE, WHERE THE ID DOMINATES, TO THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE, WHERE THE EGO DOMINENTS IN A RATIONAL WAY]]
[FREUD - THEORY OF PERSONALITY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain what would happen if the Id dominates
Mind is uncontrollable
Criminality takes place
Need to gratify the pleasure principle
Leads to uninhibited sexual behaviour and destructive tendencies
[FREUD - THEORY OF PERSONALITY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain what would happen if the SuperEgo dominates
Moralistic
Judgemental
Unable to experience pleasure principle which can build up over time
[FREUD - THEORY OF PERSONALITY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain what would happen if the Ego dominates
Desires a rigid and fixed lifestyle
Incapable of change
Conflicts can arise and psychological disorders may result if ego fails to balance the demands of Id and SuperEgo
[FREUD]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain 3 strengths of Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory
+ Talking therapies and hypnosis therapies are successful in many ways (Psychodynamic theories)
+ Id ideas can link to the limbic system. Pre-frontal cortex is responsible for rational decision making - like the ego
+ Psychodynamic theories show the importance of childhood trauma & the link to criminality
[FREUD]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain 3 weaknesses of Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory
- Lacks scientific and objective interpretation (Subjective process - psychoanalysis can come to different conclusions)
- Lacks quantitative data
-Ignores social learning or biological theories
[FREUD]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain the application to criminality
……….
[EYSENCK - PERSONALITY THEORY]
Psychological Theories
Explain the Key idea
Criminality is the result of a particular personality type
[EYSENCK - PERSONALITY THEORY]
Psychological Theories
Explain the two dimensions on the scale which represent behaviour and personality
Introversion/Extraversion (E) scale
Neuroticism/Stability (N) scale
[EYSENCK - PERSONALITY THEORY]
Psychological Theories
Explain the variety of personality characteristics
Extraverted personalities - outgoing, sociable, carefree
Can sometimes be aggressive short-tempered and unreliable
Introverted personalities - thoughtful, quiet, serious
Neurotic personalities - anxious, moody, depressed
[EYSENCK - PERSONALITY THEORY]
Psychological Theories
What would a criminal be on the personality questionnaire?
High on E and high on N
Most people would be average on E and average on N
[EYSENCK - PERSONALITY THEORY]
Psychological Theories
What was added to the scale?
Psychoticism (P Scale)
High P score meaned criminality
High P scores can overlap with serious psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia
[EYSENCK - PERSONALITY THEORY]
Psychological Theories
Explain 3 strengths
+ Explains the different personality types of individual and violent offenders
+ Research in mental hospitals - inform Eysenck of the traits of these individuals
+ Certain personality traits go together - theory agrees this.
[EYSENCK - PERSONALITY THEORY]
Psychological Theories
Explain 3 weaknesses
- Not everyone fits this pattern
- Ignores social factors, but does acknowledge the importance of socialisation in shaping
- People can lie as it’s a questionnaire (Socially desirable results) = leads to a decrease of validity in results
[BOWLBY - ATTACHMENT THEORY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain ‘maternal deprivation’
the separation or loss of the mother as well as the failure to develop an attachment
[BOWLBY - ATTACHMENT THEORY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain ‘affectionless psychopathy’
individuals that have no sense of shame or guilty; they lack a social conscience
[BOWLBY - ATTACHMENT THEORY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Briefly explain the 44 juvenile thieves
44 juvenile thieves (children)
were at child guidance clinic for emotional problems
88 children selected: 44 juvenile thieves & 44 children as controls (emotional problems)
IQ tests taken, social worker interviewed parent to record details of child’s early life, Bowlby had initial interview with child and parent
Findings - 12 thieves showed affectionless psychopathy
86% of thieves had long time period without mother
17% not diagnosed as affectionless psychopathy had experienced maternal deprivation
Conclusion - mother/guardian/parent plays a critical role within the first five years of a child’s emotional development
[BOWLBY - ATTACHMENT THEORY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain how Bowlby’s ideas explain criminality
Children that experience a long period of maternal deprivation are more likely to show criminal behaviour to emotional damage.
[BOWLBY - ATTACHMENT THEORY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain 3 strengths
+ Highlights the first 5 years of life and it’s importance
+ Strong research evidence - Bowlby’s study showed results that link to the theory
+ Highlights the importance of relationships and how it will help emotional development & personality traits
[BOWLBY - ATTACHMENT THEORY]
Psychodynamic Theories
Explain 3 weaknesses
- Ignore social influence (Peers, etc)
- Self reports = social desirability -> people can lie
- People commit crime that haven’t experience maternal deprivation
