Forensics - psychological explanations: Eysenck

Question 1

Who argued personality is inherited?

Answer 1

Eyesenck

Question 2

What did Eyesenck focus on in his research

Answer 2

Personality and intelligence research

Question 3

What are the two dimensions that Eyesenck proposed?

Answer 3

• introversion to extraversion
• neuroticism to stability

Question 4

What was the third dimension added by Eysenck?

Answer 4

Psychotisim to sociability

Question 5

What three dimensions make up the criminal personality?

Answer 5

Neurotic - extrovert - psychotic

Question 6

Extrovert characteristics

Answer 6

• under active nervous system so constantly seeking excitement
• risk taking behaviours
• don’t condition easily

Question 7

Neurotic characteristics

Answer 7

• High level of reactivity in sympathetic nervous system
• Quick response to fight or flight
• Nervous, jumpy and over anxious
• Behaviour is difficult to predict

Question 8

Psychotic characteristics

Answer 8

• Higher levels of testosterone
• unemotional
• prone to aggression
• lack empathy

Question 9

What innate trait is never socialised out of criminals

Answer 9

Desire for immediate gratification and selfishness

Question 10

Why are criminals difficult to socialise/condition

Answer 10

High E and N have nervous systems that don’t react well to conditioning

Question 11

Strength of Eysenck’s theory

Answer 11

+ when compared prisoners to non-prisoners, prisoners scored higher on Eysenck’s personality quiz (EPQ) in N and E dimensions, suggesting EPQ and theory is valid

Question 12

Limitation of Eysenck’s theory

Answer 12

• Farrington conducted meta-analysis. Found offenders scored higher highly on P but not always N and E.
• Kissner found inconsistent differences in EEGs of introverts and extroverts
• reductionist, adolescence-limited offending and life course persistent. Personality traits can’t predict lifelong offending behaviour. Offending = reciprocal process between personality and environment
• Not consistent across cultures, Barton studied Hispanic offenders, scored less on E scale than control group. Can’t be generalised
• personality = too complex for EPQs quantification