psych explanations: eysenck's theory

Question 1

what did eysenck propose in 1947

Answer 1

proposed behaviour could be represented along 2 dimensions:
1. introversion-extraversion (E)
2. neuroticism-stability (N)

Question 2

what third dimension did Eysenck later add

Answer 2

psychoticism-sociability (P)

Question 3

three dimensions within theory of criminal personality (eysenck’s theory)

Answer 3

1. introversion-extraversion (E)
2. neuroticism-stability (N)
3. psychoticism-sociability (P)

Question 4

biological basis of eysenck’s theory

Answer 4

= personality traits are biological in origin

• 3 personality traits:
  1. extraverts - underactive nervous system which constantly seek excitement, stimulation & likely to engage in risk-taking behaviours - also tend not to condition easily & thus, don’t learn from mistakes
  2. neurotic - high level of reactivity in sympathetic nervous system (react quickly to threat - fight or flight) so they tend to be nervous, jumpy & overanxious, & their general instability means behaviour is difficult to predict
  3. psychotic - higher levels of testosterone & unemotional/prone to aggression

Question 5

describe the criminal personality type

Answer 5

neurotic-extrovert-psychotic
neurotic = unstable & prone to overreact to situations of threat
extraverts = seek more arousal & thus, engage in dangerous activities
psychotics = aggressive & lack empathy

Question 6

role of socialisation in eysenck’s theory

Answer 6

• personality linked to offending behaviour via socialisation processes
• he saw offending behaviour as developmentally immature as it is selfish/concerned with immediate gratification
• process of socialisation = children taught to become able to delay gratification & become more socially orientated
• he believed people with high E & N scores are difficult to condition due to nervous systems
• less likely to learn anxiety response to antisocial impulses & thus, more likely to act antisocially in situations

Question 7

measuring the criminal personality

Answer 7

= eyesenck personality questionnaire (EQP)
- form of psychological test which locates respondents along the E, N & P dimensions to determine personality type
- enabled him to conduct research relating to personality variables to other behaviours eg. crime

Question 8

AO3 (+) research support for criminal personality

Answer 8

E: eyesenck & eyesenck (1977)
- compared 2070 prisoners scores on EPQ with 2422 controls
- on measures of extraversion, neuroticism & psychoticism, the found prisoners recorded higher average scores than controls

T: agrees with predictions of theory that offenders rate higher than average across 3 dimensions identified by eyesenck

Question 9

AO3 (-) counterpoint for evidence to support criminal personality

Answer 9

E: farrington et al. (1982)
- conducted meta-analysis of relevant studies & reported offenders tended to score high on measures psychoticism, but not for extraversion & neuroticism
- also inconsistent evidence of differences on EEG measures (measure cortical arousal) between extraverts & introverts (kussner 2017) casting doubt on psychological basis eyesenck’s theory

T: some of central assumptions of criminal personality have been challenged

Question 10

AO3 (-) idea that all offending behaviour can be explained by personality traits alone (too simplistic)

Answer 10

E: moffitt (1993)
- drew distinction between offending behaviour which only occurs in adolescence (adolescence-limited) & which continues into adulthood (life-course-persistent)
- argued personality traits alone were poor predictor of how long offending behaviour would continue for
- considered persistence in offending behaviour to be result of reciprocal process between individual personality traits & environmental reactions to these traits

T: shows more complex picture than eyesenck suggested, that the course of offending behaviour is determined by interaction between personality & environment

Question 11

AO3 (-) eyesenck’s theory doesn’t take into account cultural features

Answer 11

E: criminal personality may vary according to culture - bartol & holanchock (1979)
- studied hispanic & african-american offenders in maximum security prison in new york
- researchers divided offenders into 6 groups based upon offending history & nature of crimes
- it was found that all 6 groups were less extravert than non-offender control group whereas, eyesenck would’ve expected them to be more extravert
- bartol & holanchock suggested this was because the sample was very different cultural group compared to the one investigated by eyesenck

T: questions generalisability of criminal personality & suggests it may be culturally relative concept