PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF OFFENDING - EYSENCK Flashcards
What is included in the psychological explanations of offending?
EYSENCK’S THEORY
COGNITIVE EXPLANATIONS
DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION THEORY
What did Eysenck propose?
Eysenck proposed that behaviour could be represented along 2 dimensions introversion-extraversion and neuroticism-stability. He later added a third dimension called psychoticism-sociability.
What did Eysenck believe about personality?
Personality is biological in origin and comes about due to the nervous system we inherit therefore the criminal personality type has an innate/biological basis.
Biological basis of behaviour
This is based on the assumption that personality traits are biological in origin and come about through the type of nervous system we inherit.
Extraverts + biological basis
Extraverts have an underactive nervous system which means they constantly seek excitement, stimulation and are likely to engage in risk-taking behaviours. They tend not to condition easily and do not learn from their mistakes – under aroused
Neurotics + biological basis
Neurotic individuals have a high level of reactivity in the sympathetic nervous system - they respond quickly to situations of threat (fight or flight). This means they tend to be nervous, jumpy and overanxious, and their general instability makes their behaviour unpredictable.
Psychotics + biological basis
Psychotic individuals tend to have higher levels of testosterone and are unemotional and prone to aggression.
What is the criminal personality?
The Criminal Personality type is a neurotic-extravert-psychotic = a combination of all the characteristics.
- neurotics are unstable and therefore prone to overreact in situations of threat
- extraverts seek more arousal and thus engage in dangerous activities
- psychotics are aggressive and lack empathy
The role of socialisation
Eysenck’s theory is linked to offending behaviour via socialisation processes.
He saw offending behaviour as developmentally immature because it is selfish and concerned with immediate gratification – offenders are impatient and can’t wait for things.
The process of socialisation is one in which children are taught to become more able to delay gratification and more socially oriented.
Children are taught to overcome this but people with an Extrovert-Neurotic personality have nervous systems that are difficult to condition.
They do not learn easily and respond to antisocial impulses with anxiety so they are more likely to act antisocially in situations where the opportunity presented itself.
How is the criminal personality measured?
To measure personality, Eysenck created the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI).
What is the EPI?
This is a form of psychological test which locates respondents along the extroversion and neuroticism dimensions to determine their personality type. A later scale was later introduced to measure psychoticism.
