Psychological explanation of offending behaviour

Question 1

Eysencks theory of criminal personality

Answer 1

based on biological factors arguing individuals inherit a type of nervous system that affects their ability to learn and adapt to the environment

Question 2

Eysencks three dimensions

Answer 2

Extraversion
neuroticism
psychoticism

Question 3

Extraversion

Answer 3

enjoy risk and danger as their nervous system is under aroused

Question 4

Neuroticism

Answer 4

negative outlook

over reactive response to threat- flight or fight

Question 5

Psychoticism

Answer 5

refers to aggressive anti social people

related to high testosterone

Question 6

links to criminal behaviour

Answer 6

Eysenck explained criminality in terms of outcome between innate personality and socialisation

Question 7

interactionist view

Answer 7

a person may be born with a personality trait and due to interactions with environment it causes the development of criminality

Question 8

Strength of Eysenck study

Answer 8

2070 male prisoner and 2422 male controls

prisoners scored high on the 3 dimensions compared to the non criminals

Question 9

weakness

Answer 9

individual differences

idea of one personality type explaining all offending behaviour