Eysencks *

Question 1

Eyneck proposed that that behaviour could be represented along two dimensions

Answer 1

introversion/extraversion and neuroticism/stability . the two combine to form a variety of personality traits. Eyneck later added a third dimension called psychoticism

Question 2

the criminal personality

Answer 2

Neurotic-extravert an individual who scores highly on measures of extraversion neuroticism and psychoticism and cannot easily be conditioned , is cold and unfeeling and likely to engage in offending behaviour

Question 3

Biological bases

Answer 3

according to Eyneck, our personality traits are biological in origin and come about through the type of nervous system we inherit . Thus all personality types have an innate,biological basis. Extraverts have an underactive nervous system which means they constantly seek excitement,stimulation and engage in risk-taking behaviour. Neurotic individuals tend to be nervous, jumpy and over-anxious , and their general instability means their behaviour is often difficult to predict.

Question 4

the role of socialisation

Answer 4

personality is linked to criminal behaviour via socialisation processes. Eynecks saw criminal behaviour as developmentally immature, in that it is selfish and concerned with immediate gratification. Eyneck believe people with high E ad N scores had nervous systems that would make them difficult to condition. Aar they would not learn easily to respond to antisocial impulses with anxiety.

Question 5

measuring the criminal personality type

Answer 5

EPI eyneck personality inventory

Question 6

AO3: the (mis)measurement of using personality

Answer 6

Eysneck’s theory is built on the premise that it is possible to measure personality through the use of a psych test. Critics have suggested that personality type may not be reducible to a ‘score’ in this way; indeed, many argue there is no such thing as personality - in the sense of a stable entity. On a daily basis, we play many different parts and our personality may change depending on who we are with and the situation we are involved in. There may be no fixed and unchangeable ‘true self’ directing our behaviour, criminal or otherwise.

Question 7

AO3: evidence supporting Eysneck theory

Answer 7

Esyneck and Eysenck compared 2070 male pps scores on the EPI with 2422 male controls . Groups were subdivided into age groups, ranging from 16 to 69 years. On measures of pscyhoticism, neuroticism and exterversion - across all age groups -prisoners recorded higher than controls which accords with the prediction of this theory. However, Farrington et al. reviewed several studies and reported that offenders tended to score high on P measures, but not for E and N. There is also very little evidence of consistent diff’s in EEG measures between extraverts and introverts, which casts doubt on the psychological basis on Eysneck’s theory.