Criminal psychology ( key terms )

Question 1

State the definition of Monozygotic twins

Answer 1

Twins developed from one fertilised egg that has split into two ; considered to be genetically identical

Question 2

Operant conditioning

Answer 2

learning from the
consequences of actions.

Question 3

Positive reinforcement

Answer 3

receiving something
pleasant for a behaviour, so we repeat it.

Question 4

Negative reinforcement

Answer 4

the avoidance of
something unpleasant, so we do it again.

Question 5

Positive punishment

Answer 5

receiving
something unpleasant for a
behaviour, so we do not do it
again.

Question 6

Negative punishment

Answer 6

removing something pleasant
so we do not repeat the
behaviour again.

Question 7

Primary reinforcer

Answer 7

a reinforcer
that satisfies a biological need.

Question 8

Secondary reinforcer

Answer 8

a
reinforcer of no survival value,
but we have learned to associate
it with a primary reinforcer.

Question 9

Social learning theory

Answer 9

behaviour is learned through the
observation and imitation of role
models.

Question 10

Modelling

Answer 10

learning a new
behaviour through paying
attention to, retaining and
reproducing the behaviour of a
role model.

Question 11

Role model

Answer 11

a person who we
admire or with whom we share
similar characteristics.

Question 12

Observational learning

Answer 12

learning new behaviours through
watching and modelling a role
model.

Question 13

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 13

motivation to model the
behaviours of others who we see being rewarded for
their behaviour.

Question 14

Identification

Answer 14

temporarily adopting the behaviour
of a role model or group.

Question 15

Dizygotic twins

Answer 15

twins
developed from two different
eggs fertilised during the same
pregnancy; dizygotic twins are
not genetically identical.

Question 16

Personality

Answer 16

characteristics and qualities that make
up someone’s individual character.

Question 17

Temperament

Answer 17

the nature someone is born with,
which affects their behaviour.

Question 18

Extraversion

Answer 18

behaviour that is outgoing, sensation-
seeking and sociable.

Question 19

Introversion

Answer 19

behaviour that is reserved, calm and quiet.

Question 20

Unstable neuroticism

Answer 20

a personality trait associated with being over-reactive in stressful situations, over-emotional and anxious.

Question 21

Stable neuroticism

Answer 21

a personality trait associated
with being unreactive in stressful situations and
emotionally unaffected.

Question 22

Psychoticism

Answer 22

a personality trait that is cold, lacks empathy, is antisocial and can be aggressive.

Question 23

Eysenck’s personality questionnaire (EPQ):

Answer 23

a questionnaire to measure extraversion, introversion,
stable and unstable neuroticism, and psychoticism.

Question 24

Socialisation

Answer 24

the way you are
raised and taught how to behave.

Question 25

Holism

Answer 25

the theory of explaining something as a whole.

Question 26

Sociologist

Answer 26

a type of researcher interested in the effects of social conditions on behaviour and societies.

Question 27

Recidivism

Answer 27

when an offender is punished for their crime but commits another crime when released (rate of reoffending).

Question 28

Rehabilitative

Answer 28

a programme designed to help offenders rather than punish them.

Question 29

detention/custody

Answer 29

a prison sentence.

Question 30

Restorative justice

Answer 30

when a victim and offender meet; it is a process used to help a victim recover and make an offender understand the impact of their crime.

Question 31

Curfew

Answer 31

having to be home at certain times, such as between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Question 32

Community sentencing

Answer 32

when an offender serves a sentence in the community rather than in prison; they have to pay back the community by doing jobs such as removing graffiti.

Question 33

Token economy programme

Answer 33

a programme designed to reward prisoners for prosocial behaviour; prisoners collect tokens that can be exchanged for privileges.

Question 34

Anger management programme

Answer 34

cognitive behavioural treatment for violent offenders to help them control their anger.

Question 35

Psychopath

Answer 35

a person who is characterised by a lack of guilt and emotion, antisocial behaviour and selfishness.

Question 36

Demand characteristics

Answer 36

when the behaviour of participants changes because they derive cues from the experimenter about the nature of the study and conform to those expectations.