Eysenicks Theory

Question 1

Theory of criminal personality

Answer 1

Eysnick important in personality and intelligence research 20th century. 2 dimensions:
Introversion- extroversion
Neuroticism-stability
3* was later added- psychoticism-sociability

Question 2

A biological basis

Answer 2

Personality traits biological- type of nervous system we inherit.(innate)
Criminal personality traits ;
extroverts- seek excitement and stimulation, risk taking, hard to condition
Neurotics-high level of reactivity, nervous, jumpy, unpredictable
Psychotics-high testosterone, unemotional, aggressive

Question 3

The criminal personality

Answer 3

Neurotic- extravert - psychotic

Question 4

Measuring the criminal personality

Answer 4

EPQ- eysnicks personality questionnaire

Question 5

Socialisation

Answer 5

Personality linked to criminal via socialisation; offending is immature, selfish, immediate gratification
Teach children to be less selfish and show what’s right and wrong
High E and N makes ppl harder to condition- don’t learn anxiety response, act more antisocial

Question 6

Strength- research support

Answer 6

Eysnick and Eysnick- Compared 2017 male prisoners EPQ with 2422 control
All prisoners had higher EPN than control across all 3 age groups

Question 7

Limitations- counterpoint

Answer 7

Harrington- meta-analysis of relevant studies; offenders higher on P but not for E and N
Kussner- inconsistent diffs between extrovert and introvert
Casts doubt on theory

Question 8

Limitation- too simplistic

Answer 8

All criminality can’t be explained by a single personality type
Moffitt- personality types were a poor predictor of how long the offending would last for
Personality is too complex to reduce to a score

Question 9

Limitation- cultural factors

Answer 9

Bartol and Holanchock- max security prison and looked at Hispanic and African-American offenders
6 groups based on offences and history
All 6 scored lower than control group
Due to culturally different sample- could be culturally relative