Forensics - Psychological explanations: Eysenck

Question 1

Eysenck’s Theory of personality

Answer 1

‘Criminal personality’
All personalities made up of certain traits (characteristics) & extent to which you have those traits determines personality
3 dimensions:
Neurotic
Extravert
Psychoticism

Question 2

Extraversion

Answer 2

Social, Impulsive, Expressive, Outgoing
Due to chronically under-aroused NS - leads to sensations seeking
Impulsive & nervous nature
Do not condition easily & do not learn from mistakes
Thrill of committing a crime might draw them to offending behaviour

Question 3

Neurotocism

Answer 3

Nervousness, Obsessiveness, Anxiety
Greater activation & lower thresholds within Limbic system
Over-aroused SNS - emotional states regulated
React swiftly & strongly to strssors
Instability means behaviour difficult to predict with high levels of emotion
More likely to commit a crime in an emotionally charged situation

Question 4

Psychoticism

Answer 4

Cold, Heartless, Aggressive, Anti-social, Unemotional
Overproduction of dopamine
Inhibition of impulses during synaptic transmission - aggressive behaviour
Testosterone implicated in psychotic personality
More likely to commit a crime - aggressive & lack conscience

Question 5

Summary of personality types

Answer 5

Extraverts (underactive NS) = constantly seek excitement & risk-taking behaviours
Neuroticism (over arousal in NS) = linked to instability
Psychoticism (excess dopamine, higher testosterone) = more aggressive

Question 6

Environmental element

Answer 6

Criminality is the outcome between innate personality & socialisation
Person born with certain personality traits, interaction with environment is key in development in criminality
Associated with developmental immaturity, selfishness & immediate gratification

Question 7

Eysenck’s Personality Questionnaire

Answer 7

Includes falsification scale - detects response distortion
Measures how socially desirable you’re trying to be in your answers

Question 8

Eysenck’s research support

Answer 8

2070 male prisoners score in EPQ and 2422 male controls
Across all age groups, prisoners recorded higher scores than control

264 female offenders in UK
Completed EPQ
All offenders scored higher than control
Similar findings to that of male offenders

Question 9

Eysenck Evaluation

Answer 9

Limitations:
Farrington: reviewed 16 studies - offenders tend to score highly on P & N but not always E
Cultural bias - studied mainly white western European ppts, guilty of property crimes (not serious crimes)
Social desirability
Oversimplification of classification of criminals

Strengths
Biological basis supports role of NT & brain functioning