Eysencks Personality Theory Flashcards
(15 cards)
Basics of Eysenck’s theory
Personality is determined by our genetics
Different personalities respond to environmental stimuli differently
Antisocial behaviour is determined by genes and environment
Traits of extroverts
Sociable, dominant, impulsive, risk taking
Biological basis for extrovert/introvert
ARAS regulates level of arousal
Extrovert- ARAS dampens stimulation leaving them underaroused
Introvert- ARAS amplifies stimulation leaving them over aroused
Criminal link -extroverts
Extrovert seeks arousal from risk taking behaviour to stimulate them. Criminals are thrill seeking so more impulsive
Neuroticism characteristics
Anxious, depressed, low self esteem, guilty feelings
What nervous system responds during fight or flight
Sympathetic nervous system - uses energy,heart beats faster
What nervous system is activated when we are resting
Parasympathetic nervous system- saves energy
Neurotics parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system
Sympathetic system activated quickly
Parasympathetic system slow to respond
Link to criminals - neurotics
Criminals more likely to be neurotic as they respond emotionally, they act on impulse
Psychoticism characteristics
Aggressive, egocentric, unsympathetic, cold, insensitive
Biological basis of psychoticism
No definite link but assumed to be affected by high testosterone
Boduszek
Used violent and non violent male offenders and found criminal thinking style is associated with high PEN
Forsenca and Yule
Compared delinquent and non delinquent boys and found no different in PEN scores
Weakness
Not just one criminal personality type
Five factor model adds openness and conscientiousness and agreeableness
Low levels of conscientiousness and agreeableness relate to criminals
Weakness- questionnaire
Truth distortions, social desirability although there is a lie scale in questionnaire
