Psychological explanations: Eysenck's theory Flashcards
Eysenck was an important figure in…
personality and intelligence research
Eysenck was an important figure in personality and intelligence research during which time period?
The middle of the 20th century
Eysenck most notably proposed that behaviour could be represented along how many dimensions?
2, although he later added a third dimension
Eysenck most notably proposed that behaviour could be represented along which two dimensions?
Introversion-extraversion (E) and neuroticism-stability (N)
Introversion-extraversion and neuroticism-stability combine to form…
a variety of personality characteristics or traits
What was the third dimension that Eysenck later added?
Psychoticism-sociability (P)
Which of Eysenck’s dimensions that he proposed represented behaviour is E short for?
Introversion-extraversion
Which of Eysenck’s dimensions that he proposed represented behaviour is N short for?
Neuroticism-stability
Which of Eysenck’s dimensions that he proposed represented behaviour is P short for?
Psychoticism-sociability
Eysenck said that personality is linked to offending behaviour via what?
Socialisation processes
Eysenck saw offending behaviour as developmentally ________
immature
Eysenck saw offending behaviour as s______ and concerned with…
immediate gratification
Eysenck said that offenders are impatient and…
cannot wait for things
Eysenck said that personality is linked to offending behaviour via socialisation processes. What is the process of socialisation?
Children are taught to become more able to delay gratification - more socially oriented
Eysenck believed that people with high introversion-extraversion and neuroticism-stability scores had…
nervous systems that made them difficult to control
Eysenck believed that people with high introversion-extraversion and neuroticism-stability scores were less likely to…
learn anxiety responses to antisocial impulses
Eysenck believed that people with high introversion-extraversion and neuroticism-stability scores were more likely to…
act antisocially in situations where the opportunity presented itself
The notion that personality can e measured is one that is central to which psychological explanation for offending?
Eysenck’s
What did Eysenck develop?
The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ)
What was the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire?
A form of psychological test which locates respondents along the E, N and P dimensions to determine their personality type
Why was the EPQ a very important part of Eysenck’s theory?
It enabled him to conduct research relating personality variables to other behaviours, such as criminality
The EPQ means we can see how…
the criminality personality differs from the rest of the population across dimensions
What have critics suggested about the EPQ?
Personality type may not be reducible to a ‘score’ in this way - personality is too complex and dynamic to be quantified if indeed such a thing exists
Critics argue that personality is too complex and dynamic to be quantified - this questions whether there is such thing as…
personality, or a ‘criminal’ personality
According to Eysenck, our personality traits are __________ in origin
biological
According to Eysenck how do our personality traits come about?
Through the type of nervous system we inherit
According to Eysenck, all ___________ _____ have an innate, biological basis
personality types
According to Eysenck, extraverts have an…
underactive nervous system
According to Eysenck, extraverts have an underachieve nervous system. What does this mean about their behaviour?
They constantly seek excitement, stimulation and are likely to engage in risk-taking behaviours
According to Eysenck which personality type tend not to condition easily and therefore do not learn from their mistakes?
Extraverts