AC2.2 Individualistic Theories

Question 1

What type if theory is Bandura’s?

Answer 1

A learning theory

Question 2

What is social learning theory?

Answer 2

The idea that individuals observe and imitate the behaviour of those around them

Question 3

What are learning theories based on?

Answer 3

The assumption that offending is a set of behaviours that are learned in the same way as other behaviours

Question 4

Who are children most influenced by?

Answer 4

The adults around them

Question 5

What is observational learning?

Answer 5

When children imitate/reject a behaviour based on the consequences they see for adults

Question 6

What was banduras bobo doll experiment?

Answer 6

He had children watch a video of adults behaving violently towards a bobo doll, he then gave them a doll and observed how they acted towards it

Question 7

What did the results of the bobo doll experiment show?

Answer 7

The children acted violently towards the doll, suggesting that they learnt through observation of adults

Question 8

How did people criticise banduras bobo doll experiment?

Answer 8

Most of the children likely hadn’t seen a bobo doll before so wouldn’t know how to behave with it. This makes them more likely to imitate the behaviour of adults

Question 9

What are the strengths of social learning theory?

Answer 9

Uses scientific methods — results can be seen as credible

The experiment can be considered reliable as the variables are highly controlled

Has practical application, increasing the usefulness

Question 10

What are the weaknesses of social learning theory?

Answer 10

The experiment is seen as having ethical issues as the children are exposed to violence, they could learn these tendencies and be impacted in their future

Equipment used may not be valid as many had never seen a bobo doll

Low ecological validity as the experiment was done in an artificial environment

Question 11

What type of theory is Freud’s?

Answer 11

Psychodynamic

Question 12

What is our personality made up of?

Answer 12

The id, ego, and superego

Question 13

What are the features of the id?

Answer 13

Fully unconscious
Demands immediate gratification
Selfish
Operates on the pleasure principle

Question 14

What are the features of the superego?

Answer 14

Mostly unconscious
Operates on the morality principle

Question 15

What are the features of the ego?

Answer 15

Operates on the reality principle
Rational
Sensible

Question 16

What does Freud believes causes criminality?

Answer 16

Unresolved conflicts between the parts of the personality

Question 17

How does a weak superego cause criminality?

Answer 17

If there are abnormal relationships within the family, it results in the individual believing antisocial behaviour is normal and the superego is weakened. When the ego wants to act immorally, the superego punishes it with anxiety and through guilt the act is carried out

Question 18

How does a deviant superego cause criminality?

Answer 18

The superego reflects the same sex parents morals and punishes any behaviours that the parent would find unacceptable. Therefore, if the parent engages in criminal behaviour, the child will not react as they have adopted their morals

Question 19

How does a strong superego cause criminality?

Answer 19

This prevents the person from expressing any antisocial impulses that naturally occur (anger). They would normally be expressed through defence mechanisms but the superego prevents this. This leads to a build up over time and eventually overwhelms the ego, causing anger to be expressed in a much more violent manner

Question 20

What are the strengths of freuds psychodynamic theory?

Answer 20

Pointed out the importance of childhood experiences and relationships as an influence on offending. — can potentially lead to interventions

Led to freuds development of psychoanalysis therapy. This could help to reduce the amount of crime

Question 21

What are the weaknesses of freuds psychodynamic theory?

Answer 21

It’s no longer widely accepted as many of the concepts used (eg unconscious mind) are hard to test

The sample used is not very representative of the population so lacks validity (largely m/c group of women 20-44 with emotional problems)

Only identified the problem, not how to fix it so it is not very useful

Question 22

What type of theory is Eysenck’s?

Answer 22

Psychological

Question 23

What is the first dimension of the personality?

Answer 23

Extraversión/introversion

Question 24

What is the second dimension of the personality?

Answer 24

Neuroticism/stability

Question 25

What is the third dimension of the personality?

Answer 25

Self-control/psychoticism

Question 26

What are the characteristics of an extrovert?

Answer 26

Very sociable but can become bored quickly if there is a lack of stimulation

Question 27

What are the characteristics of a neurotic?

Answer 27

Very anxious and often irrational

Question 28

What are the characteristics of psychoticism?

Answer 28

Cold, uncaring and aggressive

Question 29

What did eysenck’s theory predict?

Answer 29

People who have extrovert, neurotic and psychotic personalities are more likely to offend because it is difficult for them to learn to control their impulses

Question 30

What did Eysenck argue about genetic inheritance?

Answer 30

We learn through conditioning but some individuals inherit a nervous system that causes them to develop a criminal personality

Question 31

What scores on eysenck’s personality test indicate criminality?

Answer 31

A high E and N score

Question 32

What are the strengths of Eysenck’s psychological theory?

Answer 32

Research on soldiers in hospital supports his theory Of the theory is correct and criminality is detectable in childhood , it may be possible to intervene and reduce crime Supporting research — Farrington et al reviewed 16 studies of the relationship between E, N and P scores with criminal convictions. Found that the majority of offenders had high P and N scores but not E

Question 33

What are the weaknesses of Eysenck’s psychological theory?

Answer 33

Lacks reliability as people may not respond the same to the questions every time May lack validity if individuals answer what they think the researcher expects Questions are all ‘yes’ or ‘no’ so answers lack detail Extremely deterministic as it assumes criminal behaviour is entirely dictated by personality and that no other factors are involved