Psychological positivism

Question 1

Who are the three key theorists for psychological positivism?

Answer 1

Freud, Aichorn and Eysenck

Question 2

What is the basis of the theory?

Answer 2

Individuals are not born criminal but they can develop psychological deficiencies

Question 3

What were Freud’s ideas?

Answer 3

Explains behaviour by examining underlying mental conflicts within the mind. Identifies three elements of personality.
Id: Basic urges, driven by desire. Should be controlled by ego/super ego.
Ego: Develops through experience. Tempers desires with reality of consequences.
Super-ego; Conscience/moral code in unconscious brain. Develops through experiences, over time.

*If the ego and super-ego don’t balance and control the desires, impulses are channelled into other (possibly criminal) behaviours

Question 4

What were Aichorn’s ideas?

Answer 4

• Children begin ‘associal’ and self concerned
• As a chid ego and super-ego develops children begins to socialise
• But sometimes this does not occur properly, due to neglect, lack of schooling etc.
• Children who do not socialise properly are more likely to commit crimes.
• Influences on lack of socialisation include:
• single parent, large families, alcoholic parents, abuse, neglect, mentally ill parents, lack of schooling

Question 5

What were Eysenck’s ideas?

Answer 5

Eysenck thought there were three dimensions of personality

1. E: extroverted v introverted
2. N: neurotic (moody, anxious) v stable (calm, level-headed)
3. P: psychotic (preference for cruelty) v non-psychotic

• Children develop conscience to control anti-social behaviour
• High E, N and P are harder to condition/socialise - therefore more likely to be criminal.
• Consider both the ability to be conditioned and the quality of conditioning

Question 6

Application of the theory to reduce crime

Answer 6

• use research to develop methods targeting deficiencies either before they appear, or after they’ve manifested.
• improve ‘socialisation’ processes: e.g. improve mental health, alcohol issues, parenting practises etc.

Question 7

What are some criticisms of the theory?

Answer 7

1. ‘normal’ personality is a construction and does not really exist
2. Too focused on street crime: doesn’t explain white collar crime etc.
3. Relies on a constructed idea/definition of crime
4. Criminals are only discovered after they become criminal - reduces ability to use early intervention and must rely on rehabilitation
5. Cannot accurately predict crime