Chapter 1 - Theories Of Offending

Question 1

What is a theory?

Answer 1

Plausible or scientifically acceptable set of principles

Question 2

Name the 5 theories of offending

Answer 2

1. Attachment theory
2. Personality theory
3. Social learning theory
4. Lifestyle theory
5. ICAP theory

Question 3

What does the attachment theory state?

Answer 3

We have innate biological needs to maintain contact with PCG.

Question 4

What does early maternal deprivation lead to?

Answer 4

Emotional detachment (cold)

Separation anxiety (emotional)

Question 5

What does the attachment theory state about offenders?

Answer 5

Those separated at early stages are more likely to convict

Question 6

What was found in terms of conviction rates and separation from PCG?

Answer 6

Those who lived with their mothers (father’s died) had lower conviction rates than those who lives with no relatives at all (highest conviction rates).

Shows a loving mother might be able to compensate.

Question 7

Offenders tend to have what types of attachment?

Answer 7

Insecure, anxious and avoidant

Question 8

What does the personality theory state?

Answer 8

Committing crimes was a rational, hedonistic act to strive towards pleasure

Question 9

According to the Personality theory, what prevents us from committing crimes?

Answer 9

Conscience

Question 10

What is a conscience?

Answer 10

A conditioned fear response depending on conditioning ability

Question 11

What does behaviour depend on?

Answer 11

Consistency in behaviour - personality mediates between genetics and environment

Question 12

What does the Personality theory say about the conditioning of offenders?

Answer 12

Poor conditioning ability - not built up strong enough consciences

Question 13

What 3 dimensions did Eysenck find in personality?

Answer 13

High extroversion (E)
High neuroticism (N)
Psychoticism (P)

Question 14

What is High E

Answer 14

High extroversion - low levels of cortical arousal

Question 15

What is high N

Answer 15

High neuroticism - high resting levels of anxiety

Question 16

What is P?

Answer 16

Psychoticism - traits typical of criminals (low empathy, impulsiveness)

Question 17

What does SLT state?

Answer 17

Focuses on interaction between parent and child: actions that are rewarded are more frequent / actions punished should occur less

Question 18

What does SLT state about offenders?

Answer 18

Parents fail to tell their children how to behave appropriately.

Coercive parenting.

Operant conditioning —> positive reinforcement —> observing and imitation

Question 19

What are the 4 stages of social learning?

Answer 19

Attention
Retention
Motivation
Reproduction

Question 20

What is the most important child rearing method in regards to offending?

Answer 20

Poor parental supervision

Question 21

What type of parenting predicts offending?

Answer 21

Harsh/erratic and inconsistent discipline

Question 22

What did Patterson develop to overcome ASB in children?

Answer 22

Parental management training

Question 23

What does the Lifestyle Theory aim to do?

Answer 23

Explain the development of a criminal lifestyle

Question 24

What are the 4 factors in developing a criminal lifestyle?

Answer 24

Social rule breaking
Self-indulgence
Irresponsibility
Interpersonal intrusiveness

Question 25

What does Walters’ functional model explain?

Answer 25

How criminal lifestyle develops: Hedonistic motivation Excitement seeking Desire for personal advantage Defensive reactions of fears/threats

Question 26

What does Walters’ change model explain?

Answer 26

How people give up criminal lifestyle. Changes in self-concept Taking responsibility Increased confidence Increase empathy

Question 27

What are the 5 internal factors to stop offending (lifestyle theory)?

Answer 27

1. Shifting from selfish to considerate 2. Developing social values/behaviours 4. Considerate to other members of the community 5. Meaning given to life

Question 28

What are the 4 processss of cognitive transformation (lifestyle theory)?

Answer 28

1. Must be open to change 2. Expose themselves to social interactions 3. Create new pro social identity 4. Shift perception of criminal lifestyle

Question 29

What does ICAP stand for

Answer 29

Integrated cognitive antisocial potential

Question 30

What is ICAP based on?

Answer 30

Antisocial potential Early risk factors increase AP

Question 31

What does AP depend on for form ASB?

Answer 31

Cognitive processes: Cognition Victims Opportunity

Question 32

What does LT AP depend on?

Answer 32

Impulsiveness Modelling Socialisation processes Life events

Question 33

What is the most important risk factor for LT AP?

Answer 33

Hyperactivity - impulsivity - attention deficit

Question 34

What are ST AP factors?

Answer 34

Motivating factors Situational factors

Question 35

What is psychopathy?

Answer 35

Personality disorder - complete disregard for other and lack of behavioural controls. Unable to express remorse/guilt Lack of anxiety

Question 36

What is used to measure psychopathy?

Answer 36

PCL-R (Hare, 2003)

Question 37

What is the UK threshold for psychopathy

Answer 37

< 30

Question 38

What does Factor 1 state in PCLR

Answer 38

Interpersonal features (glibness, grandiose, manipulative) Affective features (lack of remorse, failure to accept responsibility)

Question 39

What does factor 2 state in PCLR?

Answer 39

Lifestyle features (prone to boredom) Antisocial features (ASB early on)

Question 40

What 2 types of psychopathy are there?

Answer 40

Primary - low anxiety (factor 1) Secondary - high anxiety (factor 2)

Question 41

What is cognitive empathy?

Answer 41

Ability to take another person’s perspective (breakdown - Autism)

Question 42

What is affective empathy?

Answer 42

Ability to feel what another person is feeling (breakdown - psychopath)

Question 43

What are the two types of aggression

Answer 43

Hot/ reactive (secondary) Cold/ instrumental (primary)

Question 44

What is the neuropeptide related to psychopathy

Answer 44

Oxytocin

Question 45

What does increasing oxytocin do?

Answer 45

Resulting in more prosocial (but also ASB) behaviours