Psychological explanations of offender profiling: Eysenck's theory Flashcards
What did Eysenck’s theory suggest?
There are identifiable personality traits and these have a genetic basis. An individual’s adult personality is a mix of biological tendencies combined with learning experiences. This mix can be used to explain why some people commit crimes.
What are the 3 personality traits Eysenck believed were involved in criminal personality?
Extraversion (introversion)
Neuroticism (Stability)
Psychoticism (Normality)
Define ‘extraversion’
According to Eysenck, this refers to outgoing people who enjoy risk and danger because they’re nervous systems are under-aroused.
Define ‘Neuroticism’
According to Eysenck, this refers to people with a negative outlook who get upset easily. Their lack of stability is due to an over-reactive response to threat.
Define ‘Psychoticism’
According to Eysenck, this refers to an aggressive, anti-social person who lacks empathy. This may be related to high levels of testosterone.
What did Eysneck suggest about his scale?
If people score highly on E. N and P, they are more likely to commit a crime
Outline the biological basis to extraversion
Determined by the overall level of arousal in a person’s nervous system.
Being under-aroused requires more stimulation whereas an over-aroused person doesn’t require this.
Extraverts seek external stimulation to increase their cortical (brain) arousal.
Outline the biological basis to neuroticism
Determined by the level of stability in the SNS - how much a person responds in situations of threat.
Neurotic person is slightly unstable and reacts/gets upset easily.
Outline the biological basis to psychoticism
Higher levels of testosterone - men are more likely to be found at this end of the spectrum.
How is extraversion linked to criminal behaviour
Extraverts seek more arousal and so engage in dangerous activities
How is neuroticism linked to criminal behaviour
Neurotics are unstable and therefore prone to over-react to stimulations of threat, which would explain some criminal activity
How is psychoticism linked to criminal behaviour
Individuals are aggressive and lacking empathy
Outline the evaluation points for Eysenck’s theory
Personality tests lack validity
Acknowledges both nature/nurture
Theory of personality rather than offending
Outline the issues/debates/rm in eysenck’s theory
- nomothetic
- hard determinism
- issues with self-report (EPI) - social desirability bias
