criminal Flashcards
(36 cards)
What is criminal personality according to Eysenck’s theory?
Traits associated with people who commit crimes, inherited through genetic inheritance and innate.
What characterizes high extraversion scores?
Sociable, lively, and sensation-seeking individuals who require more stimulation from their environment.
How does the brain of an extrovert function?
Extroverts have a low level of arousal in their cerebral cortex, leading to risky and anti-social behavior.
What characterizes high neuroticism scores?
Anxious individuals who react very strongly to aversive stimuli.
What brain response is associated with high neuroticism?
The ANS becomes over-aroused, affecting the limbic system and causing violent and unstable behavior.
What characterizes high psychoticism scores?
Aggressive and egocentric behavior.
What brain condition is linked to high psychoticism?
An excess of dopaminergic neurons leading to overproduction of dopamine, resulting in less inhibition and more aggressive behavior.
What did Eysenck believe about the development of criminality?
It mainly develops due to genetics, but early socialization and difficulties in conditioning can also play a part.
What is a limitation of Eysenck’s theory?
It ignores individual differences and is too deterministic, not explaining why individuals commit criminal acts.
What was the aim of Heaven’s (1996) study?
To test the correlation between Eysenck’s personality traits and delinquency.
What was the sample size and demographic of Heaven’s study?
282 teenagers aged 13-15 from two Catholic schools in Australia.
What research method was used in Heaven’s study?
Questionnaire and longitudinal study.
What were the findings of Heaven’s study regarding gender and delinquency?
Males were more likely than females to be involved in delinquency at both Time 1 and Time 2.
What correlation was found in Heaven’s study?
A positive correlation between psychoticism and delinquency at both Time 1 and Time 2.
What is a limitation of Heaven’s study?
The sample was culturally biased and limited by social desirability due to self-reporting.
What is the key debate in criminal psychology?
Nature (biological) vs. Nurture (learned/society) and Determinism (trait theory) vs. Free Will.
What does Bandura’s social learning theory suggest?
All behavior, including criminal behavior, is learned through observation, particularly in children.
What is the role of role models in criminal behavior?
Children identify with role models and may decide to imitate their behavior.
What is vicarious reinforcement?
When a role model is observed being rewarded for criminality, increasing the likelihood of imitation.
What is direct reinforcement?
When an observer engages in a criminal act and receives a reward, making it likely to continue.
What is internalization in the context of behavior?
When behavior becomes part of an individual, continuing without the need for reinforcement.
What is a limitation of social learning theory?
It ignores the role of nature, such as brain dysfunction and genetics.
What was the aim of Cooper & Mackie’s (1986) study?
To see if aggressive video games would lead to increased aggression in children.
What was the sample size and demographic of Cooper & Mackie’s study?
84 children aged 9-11 from schools in New Jersey, USA.
