Individualistic Theories Flashcards
(28 cards)
What are all the individualistic theories?
Psychodynamic - psychoanalysis, bowlby maternal deprevation
Eyesnck personality theory
Learning theory - Sunderland association, operant conditioning, social learing
What do psychodynamic theories say?
Our personality’s contains active forces that cause us to act as we do, criminality is a result of failure to resolve inner conflicts in a socially acceptable way
What is psychoanalysis?
Freud - Idea that our unconscious mind involves 3 forces that governs our behaviour
ID - instincts, selfish pleasure seeking
Superego - morality, contains moral code learned through socialisation, if we go against it we are punished by guilt.
Ego - reality principle, actions have consequence, satisfies the ID in a way that is morally acceptable to superego
Criminality is caused by abnormal socialisation resulting in damaged superego
weak superego - less guilt, likely to commit crimes
over harsh superego - extreme guilt, commit to be punished
deviant superego - socialised into deviant moral code so likely to commit crime
What does psychoanalysis say cause criminality?
Criminality is caused by abnormal socialisation resulting in damaged superego
weak superego - less guilt, likely to commit crimes
over harsh superego - extreme guilt, commit to be punished
deviant superego - socialised into deviant moral code so likely to commit crime
What are the strengths of psychoanalysis theory?
✔️ shows the importance of early socialisation and how it can affect criminal behaviour
What are the weaknesses of psychoanalysis?
✖️critics doubt the existence of the unconscious mind
✖️unscientific and subjective as it relys on accepting the psychoanalysts claims that they can see into the workings of the unconscious mind
What is Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory?
Argues child needs a continuous secure relationship with mother before the ago of 5, if this is broken child will be unable to from meaningful relationships ‘affectionless psychopathy’ which can lead to criminal behaviour
What research is in Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory?
a study on 44 thieves found that 39% experience maternal deprivation
What are the strengths of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory?
✔️ there is evidence to support the theory
✔️ it had led to changes to reduce maternal deprivation
What are the weaknesses of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory?
✖️ cannot be the only cause as study only showed 39%
✖️ over estimated the effects of early childhood on criminality
What did Eysenck’s personality theory say?
criminality is caused by a particular personality type
What is Eysenck’s personality theory?
criminality is caused by a certain personality trait
developed Eysenck personality questionnaire to measure personality traits ranking them on E and N scales
E - extroversion vs introversion
N - neuroticism and emotional stability
Found most people scored in the middle and criminals scored high on both scales
What are the strengths of Eysenck’s personality theory?
✔️other studies support his predictions of high E and N scores link to criminality
What are the weaknesses of Eysenck’s personality theory?
✖️the questionnaire was self report so results may no be valid
✖️evidence shows relationship between personality type and criminality but does not prove personality causes criminality, it could be the other way round
what do the learning theories of criminality say?
believe criminal behaviour is learned, focuses on the influence of our immediate social environment and the role punishment and reinforcement has on criminal behaviour
what are the learning theories of criminality?
Sutherlands differential association theory
Operant learning theory
Social learning theory
What is Sutherlands differential association theory?
criminal behaviour is learnt from family and peer groups through
imitation - acquire criminal skills by observing others around them
learned attitudes - learning attitudes about the law within a group through socialisation
What was the study in Sutherlands differential association theory?
study on WCC found group attitudes within workplace normalised criminal behaviour
What are the strengths of Sutherlands differential association theory?
✔️his theory is supported by the facts that crime runs in family’s
What are the weakness of Sutherlands differential association theory?
✖️not everyone exposed to criminal influences becomes criminal
What is operant learning theory?
Criminal behaviour can be learned through consequences
If behaviour is rewarded it will be repeated, if punished it will not be repeated
What is differential reinforcment theory in operant learning theory?
Jeffrey argues criminal behaviour is learned through reinforcment.
If a crime has more rewarding consequences (money/respect) then they will be more likely to engage in crime.
The balance of rewards and punishment can explain an individuals offering
What are strengths of operant learning theory?
✔️skinners rat study shows that animals can learn through reinforcment so it’s logical to say it can be applied to humans
✔️can explain why people offend
What are the weaknesses of operant learning theory?
✖️ ignores internal mental processes and only explains criminality through reward and punishment
✖️based in animals so not a fully adequate explanation for how humans learn criminal behaviour
