L6 - Eysenck's Theory of the Criminal Personality Flashcards
Three dimensions to criminal behaviour
Introversion/extroversion
Neuroticism/stability
Psychoticism
Where do the criminal personality and all personality types originate from
Biological, innate
Nervous system inherited from parents
Extroverts have what type of nervous system
Under-active so seek excitement and stimulation e.g. risk taking
What is the criminal personality type
Neurotic-extrovert
Score highly on psychoticism (cold, unemotional, aggressive)
What are extrovert/neurotics difficult to condition into?
Delaying gratification and becoming socially orientated - socialisation
What test was developed to determine personality type
Eysenck’s personality inventory
Neurotics feel and are what
Over-anxious and nervous so have behaviour difficult to predict
Extrovert/neurotics respond to anti-social impulses with
Anxiety so act more antisocial when they can
How many male prisoners and male controls were compared against each other and what was found? (+)
2080 prisoners
2422 control
Prisoners scored higher on all dimensions
What is the modern personality theory?
What are three other factors? (-)
Five Factor Model
Openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness
All combined give many combos - more than one can be criminal
- related to reductionism and being changeable
Can’t reduce personality to a score through tests - oversimplifying it
No stable personality as it changes daily depending on who with and the situation
