Psychological explanations - criminal personality

Question 1

Supporting evidence (strength)
DW

Answer 1

• supporting evidence for Eysenck’s theory
• compared 2070 male prisoners scores on EPI with 2422 male controls and found prisoners scored higher
• fits with prediction that criminals have higher levels of extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism
• increases validity

Question 2

Simplistic explanation (limitation)
HB

Answer 2

• the idea that all offending behaviour can be explained by a single personality type has been heaving criticised
• Digman suggested there are additional dimensions alongside neuroticism and extraversion including openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness
• high E and N scores does not mean a criminal personality

Question 3

Cultural bias (limitation)
DW

Answer 3

• this explanation may have cultural bias
• Bartol and Holanchock looked into cultural differences between Hispanic and African-American offenders in a maximum-security prison and divided them into 6 groups based on their criminal history and the nature of their offence. All 6 groups were found to be less extraverted than control groups
• suggested this was because the sample was of a different cultural group to Eysenck
• questions the generalisability, as it limits the ability to explain whole populations

Question 4

Reductionist (limitation)
HB

Answer 4

• Eysenck’s theory is built on the premise that it is possible to measure personality through the use of a psychological test
• critics suggest personality type may not be reducible to score in this way. Others argue there is no such thing as personality
• if there is no fixed and unchangeable ‘true self’ that directs our behaviour, then the theory of criminal personality is incorrect

Question 5

Deterministic (limitation)
DW

Answer 5

• recognises that personality may have a genetic basis and therefore suffers from biological determinism
• suggests criminal behaviour is a result of the activity in our nervous system
• suggests people do not have control over whether they are going to be a criminal or not
• does not fit with judicial system which suggests individuals always have a choice over their actions. Creates issues when trying to hold people accountable for their actions