Psychological explanations Flashcards
What does Eyesnicks personality theory suggest
-suggested there was a specific criminal personality ( extravert- neurotic ) could be measured across two dimensions ( extravert-introvert) ( stable- neurotic) a third dimension added later pyschotism
- has considerable biological links, extraverts have underactive nervous systems so seek attention seeking things, risk taking activities
- Measured using the EPI ( eyes nicks personality test
Limitations of Eyesnicks personality
(1) - Is culturally biased
sample taken from majority Western culture. Research studied Hispanics and A-A found they were less extraverted that the control group. Cant be generalised
(2) EPI has methological issues - is a questionnaire, may lie, issues of validity
Strengths of Eyesnicks theory
- recognises personality may have a genetic basis and fits well with other biological explanations, suffers from same reductionist crirtisms ike biological
what does differential association suggest
Proposed by Sunderland, offending is learned in the same way as any other behaviour through interaction, attitudes.
- based on behavourist principles ( classical conditioning, operant conditioning)
- if number of pro-crime attitudes an individual encounters outweighs the number of anti-crime attiutdes they will develop a pro-crime attitude
Strengths of differential association
(1) can account for crime within all sectors of society
crimes such as burglary may be clustered within certain inner city working class communities. Provides more realistic solution to problem of crime
(2) has research support
Farrington et al. Fund 41% of his sample of 411 males in deprived area of London had been convicted of crime at least once. He identified a key childhood risk factor was family criminality ( could also be accounted for by biological and genetic factors)
limitation of differential associatin
its difficult to .test
