🟤 Forensics - Psychological Explanations: Eysenk’s Theory of Criminal Personality

Question 1

Eysenks 3 factor model

Answer 1

Psychoticism

Extraversion vs introversion

Neuroticism vs stability

Question 2

Eysenck theory of personality

Answer 2

States that out personality is innate and has a biological basis

Personality is genetic, we inherit a type of nervous system that predisposes us to offending

Halfway between psychological and biological approach

Highlights a personality type known as the ‘criminal personality’

Question 3

How does Eysenck measure personality

Answer 3

Eysenck’s personality questionnaire

Measures where an individual is along the E, N, L dimensions to determine their personality type

extroversion - introversion
neuroticism - stability
liar scale

Question 4

Eysencks personality questionnaire, Lie scale and social desirability

Answer 4

Inclusion of a falsification scale providing the detection of response distortion. Lie score out of 9, measures how socially desirable you are trying to be in your answers.

Those who score 5 or more on this scale are probably trying to make themselves look good and not being completely honest

Question 5

What is extroversion

Answer 5

Extroversion = people are more outgoing, enjoy social interactions, prefer the company of others, seek excitement and stimulation

Question 6

What is introversion

Answer 6

Introversion = more reserved, thoughtful, quieter, more reflective. Prefer solitary activities or smaller social gatherings

Question 7

Recipe for the criminal personality (3 factor model)

Answer 7

Psychoticism + extroversion + neuroticism =

Criminal personality

Question 8

Biology of extroversion and how this contributes to a criminal personality

Answer 8

The reticular activating system (RAS) is in the brain stem, where spinal cord meets the brain.

When external stimuli enters the brain the RAS acts as a filter controlling how much stimulation we receive.

Extroverts have a RAS that filters out more information which means they are less stimulated. Results in lower levels of cortical arousal so extroverts seek higher stimulation as they don’t naturally get enough stimulation so can then to crime to get an adrenaline rush

Also do not condition easily and do not learn from mistakes .

Thrill of committing a crime may draw them to offending behaviour

Question 9

Biology of introversion

Answer 9

RAS = lets more information through, not as much filtering occurring so these people are being over stimulated already and their cortical region has a high level of arousal.

Because already high stimulated, more sensitive to extra stimuli so they don’t want or seek any extra arousal so won’t seek any more stimulation in life .

Quieter environments preferred and thrill of committing a crime would over stimulate them so less likely to be drawn to offending behaviour

Question 10

Environmental element of Eysenks theory

Answer 10

Eysenck explained criminality in terms of the outcome between innate personality and socialisation.

Person born with certain personality traits, but interaction with the environment is key in the development of criminality.

Criminal behaviour, associated with development of immaturity, selfishness and immediate gratification.

Question 11

Eysencks conditioning

Answer 11

1. A child is conditioned
2. Child learns sense of right and wrong
3. Learns good behaviour results in rewards
4. Child avoids behaviour which leads to punishment
5. Child controls own impulses

People with high E and N scores cannot be conditioned easily because of lower arousal they don’t learn from punishment/rewards = more likely to engage rule breaking

Question 12

What is neuroticism

Answer 12

Refers to an individuals emotional instability

People high in neuroticism are more likely to react strongly to stress

Question 13

What is stability

Answer 13

Emotionally stable

Remain, calm, balanced and composed even in stressful or challenging situations

Question 14

Biological of neuroticism and how it contributes to a criminal personality

Answer 14

Emotional instability, reacts strongly to stress

Over active limbic system, involving the amygdala and hypothalamus that regulates emotions where emotional states are regulated, such as fear and aggression. React swiftly and strongly to stressors

Means their behaviour is difficult to predict in high levels of emotion

More likely to commit a crime in an emotionally charged situation

Question 15

What is Psychoticism

Answer 15

Tendency to lack empathy, antisocial

Excess of dopamine neurons causing overproduction of dopamine.

More likely to commit a crime as they are aggressive and lack conscience, guilt, remorse

Question 16

Eysenck (1977)

Answer 16

SUPPORT

Compared 2070 male prisoners score on EPQ and 2422 male controls.

Subdivided into ages group (16-69)

Across all age groups, prisoners recorded higher scores on EPQ than controls on PEN compared to non criminals

Question 17

Eysenck and Eysenck (1973)

Answer 17

Female research

264 female offenders in UK

Completed EPQ

Found that all offenders scored higher on the EPQ PEN than controls

Similar findings to that of male offenders

Question 18

Raine et al (1997)

Answer 18

Murderers brain scan showed less active prefrontal cortex, less self control links with neurotic traits

Question 19

Barton and Holanchock (1979)

Answer 19

Hispanic, American male prisoners in NY

Gave EPQ and compared male prisoners against non criminals

Scored lower on extroversion than the control group

Less outgoing and thrill seeking than Eysenck predicted

Not culturally valid?

Question 20

4 limitations of Eysencks theory

Answer 20

Farrington et al (1982) - reviewed 16 studies and found that offenders tend to score highly on P and N measures but not always E

Cultural bias - Eysenck studied mainly white westerns European participants. Guilty of property crimes (doesn’t measure personality for serious crimes)

Social desirable, may lack validity

OVERSIMPLIFICATION of the classification of criminals