Module 7: Criminal Psychology Flashcards
Describe operant conditioning as an explanation for criminality
- Positive/negative reinforcement (receive something pleasant/unpleasant thing stops)
- Positive/negative punishment (unpleasant thing given/pleasant thing taken away)
- Reinforcers: primary (satisfies biological need) & secondary (associated with primary)
What are the strengths and weaknesses of operant conditioning as an explanation for criminality?
- Strengths: explains many crimes, basis for justice system
- Weaknesses: doesn’t consider other motivations, doesn’t explain all crimes
Explain the process of social learning theory as an explanation for criminality
- Attention to behaviour
- Retention of behaviour
- Be capable of reproduction
- Motivation to copy (intrinsic or vicarious)
- Identification: temporarily adopting the beliefs/behaviours of a role model or group
What are the strengths of social learning theory as an explanation for criminality?
- Evidence: Bandura (1960s) nursery children experiments
- Explains behaviour learned in the absence of reinforcement
- Explains why some exposed to criminality are not criminals (they lack the motivation)
What are the weaknesses of social learning theory as an explanation for criminality?
- Cannot be ethically tested (long term effects)
- Cannot explain all crimes (murder/fraud not commonly observed)
Explain genes as a biological explanation for criminality
- Twin studies, higher % of identical twins both criminal than non-identical (could be nurture)
- Adoption, connection found but other inherited trait could be common cause
Explain personality theory as a biological explanation for criminality
- Hans Eysnck (1964), Eysnck Personality Questionnaire
- Introversion/extroversion (E), Neuroticism (calm/nervous) (N), Psychoticism (lack of empathy) (P)
- High PEN score = criminality
- Combines genetic factors with socialisation (taught to behave)
What are the strengths of personality theory as a biological explanation for criminality?
- Relationship between high P&N scores with criminality (not E)
- Holistic, combines social and biological factors
What are the weaknesses of personality theory as a biological explanation for criminality?
- Assumes personality is fixed/stable
- Doesn’t consider situational factors
- Unreliable (self-report, social desirability bias, only convicted criminals reported)
Explain prison as a form of punishment
- Denied civil liberties
- Positive punishment
- Deterrent
- Some find stability/friends/routine - positive reinforcement
What are the strengths of prison as a form of punishment?
Reassure public / keep public safe
What are the weaknesses of prison as a form of punishment?
- Recidivism 25%
- Exposed to criminal role models
- Can’t find jobs with a criminal record
- Ethical issues - civil liberties denied
Explain community sentencing as a form of punishment
- Unpaid community work
- Curfew and area restrictions
What are the strengths of community sentencing as a form of punishment?
- Not exposed to criminal role models
- Less likely to reoffend (to avoid prison)
- Second chance for minor offences
What are the weaknesses of community sentencing as a form of punishment?
- Recidivism >30%
- 10% fail to complete sentence (break curfew, don’t show up, commit another crime, etc)
Explain restorative justice as a form of punishment
- Offender communicating with victim (in person/letter)
- Mediator present to alleviate distress
What are the strengths of restorative justice as a form of punishment?
- Victim satisfaction 85%
- 14% reduction in recidivism (may be because program is voluntary)
- More beneficial for victim than reducing recidivism
What are the weaknessses of restorative justice as a form of punishment?
- May cause distress to victim/offender (mediator in place to minimise distress)
- Time consuming/costly (however less costly than reoffending)
Explain token economy programs as a form of rehabilitation
- Positive reinforcement for pro-social behaviour
- Tokens (secondary reinforcers) exchanged for luxuries
What are the strengths of token economy programs as a form of rehabilitation?
- Increases pro-social behaviour (evidence)
- Economical/easily implemented
What are the weaknesses of token economy programs as a form of rehabilitation?
- Limited to prison setting
- Limited rehabilitative value
- Requires prison staff to be on board
Explain the process of anger management programs as a form of rehabilitation
- Cognitive preparation (identify triggers, understand emotions)
- Skills acquisition (relaxation techniques, assertiveness, etc)
- Application practice (role-play triggering situations)
What are the weaknesses of anger management programs as a form of rehabilitation?
- Anger doesn’t cause all crimes (participants carefully selected)
- VERY mixed evidence - educational benefit, but may not reduce recidivism
- Participants must be motivated
- Can help psychopaths manipulate others more effectively
What was the aim of Bandura, Ross & Ross (1961) Transmission of Aggression study?
To investigate whether children would imitate aggressive behaviour observed from an unknown adult
What was the procedure of Bandura, Ross & Ross (1961) Transmission of Aggression study?
- 36 girls and 36 boys, nursery aged
- Groups of six plus control group (no role model)
- Role model aggressive or non-aggressive, male or female
What were the results of Bandura, Ross & Ross (1961) Transmission of Aggression study?
- Children with aggressive role model more aggressive than children with non-aggressive role model (true for physical and verbal aggression)
- Boys copied physical aggression more than verbal
- Verbal aggression of girls and physical aggression of boys equal
What were the conclusions of Bandura, Ross & Ross (1961) Transmission of Aggression study?
- Evidence for social learning theory
- Children can learn from any role model, but especially imitate same-sex role models
What are the strengths of Bandura, Ross & Ross (1961) Transmission of Aggression study?
- Standardised procedure
- Groups matched according to normal aggression levels
What are the weaknesses of Bandura, Ross & Ross (1961) Transmission of Aggression study?
- Unfamiliar environment, demand characteristics
- Ethical issues (unpredictable long term effects)
What was the aim of Charlton et al. (2000) Children’s Playground Behaviour and TV?
Investigate the effect of the introduction of TV on children’s behaviour
What was the procedure of Charlton et al. (2000) Children’s Playground Behaviour and TV?
- Natural experiment: island of St Helena, mainland TV to be introduced
- Cameras recorded pro/anti-social behaviour 4 months before and 5 years after TV’s introduction
What were the conclusions of Charlton et al. (2000) Children’s Playground Behaviour and TV?
TV had very little influence on behaviour, was not imitated
What are the strengths of Charlton et al. (2000) Children’s Playground Behaviour and TV?
- Same schools used (different children, same environment)
- Cameras, no demand characteristics
What are the weaknesses of Charlton et al. (2000) Children’s Playground Behaviour and TV?
- Results limited to community (high levels of adult supervision, other studies found differing results)
- Programmes watched on island different to programmes watched on mainland
