Psychological theories of crime: Eysenck

Question 1

Biological: Functioning of the nervous system- Some individuals inherit a nervous system that require high levels of stimulation

Question 2

Psychological: Stable psychological traits- People’s personalities can be reduced to just two dimensions.

Question 3

Social: Responses to socialisation (conditioning)- People with high anxiety are difficult to condition into society’s rules

Question 4

What two dimensions does Eysenck’s Personality Theory suggest people’s personality varies along?

Answer 4

• Extraversion (E)– how much stimulation they need
• Neuroticism (N) – how emotionally unstable they are

Question 5

Name the 4 ways these traits are normally distributed.

Answer 5

1) High N
2) High E
3) Low N
4) Low E

Question 6

What type is high N and high E? What qualities come with this?

Answer 6

Choleric type (unstable extroverts): qualities include being touchy, excitable, restless, changeable, irresponsible, impulsive, aggressive.

Question 7

What type is high N and low E? What qualities come with this?

Answer 7

Melancholic type (unstable introverts): qualities such as – quiet, reserved, pessimistic, sober, rigid, anxious, moody.

Question 8

What type is low N and high E? What qualities come with this?

Answer 8

Sanguine type (stable extroverts): qualities such as – outgoing, talkative, responsive, easy going, lively, carefree, sociable.

Question 9

What type is low N and low E? What qualities come with this?

Answer 9

Phlegmatic type (stable introverts): qualities such as – calm, even-tempered, reliable, controlled, peaceful, thoughtful, careful.

Question 10

What did Eysenck later add on as a third dimension?

Answer 10

Psychoticism (P)

Question 11

What personality traits are associated with Psychoticism?

Answer 11

High P-scorers tend to be cold, uncaring, solitary, and aggressive.

Question 12

Eysenck believed P to be largely ___________ determined.

Answer 12

genetically

Question 13

Which personality type is more likely to be linked to criminality?

Answer 13

Neuroticism

Question 14

Which characteristics linked to each personality type suggest your personality type predicts if you are at risk of being a criminal?

Answer 14

• Extroversion (E)- Assertive/dominant/sensation seeking.
• Neuroticism(N)- Anxious /depressed /emotional /moody.
• Psychoticism (P)- Aggressive/anti-social/lacks empathy.

Question 15

What personality trait did Eysenck say that criminals display higher levels of?

Answer 15

All 3 characteristics.

Question 16

Name a strength of Eysenck’s Personality Theory.

Answer 16

Has shown some accuracies with experts as his theory has been tested and there is some evidence to suggest that offenders will score more highly on Neuroticism.

Question 17

Name a weakness of Eysenck’s Personality Theory.

Answer 17

Sometimes personality traits are contextual e.g. (you might behave differently at college than around your friends and family).