PSYCH explanations: Eysenck

Question 1

AO1: what was eysenck criminal personality theoyr?

Answer 1

That behaviour could be represented across two dimensions.

*introversion/extroversion

*neuroticism/stability

these two COMBINE together to create personality traits.

Question 2

AO1:

what did eysenck believe as he biological basis of personality?

Answer 2

believed personality is BIOLOGICAL and comes about due to t he NS we INHERIT. So criminal personality type has an INNATE bio basis.

EXTRAVERTS have a UNDERACTIVE ns and seek EXCITEMENT.

NUEROTICS have a high level of REACTIVITY in the sympathetic NS (fight or flight) and are OVERANXIOUS and difficult to predict.

PSYCHOTICS are unemotional and AGGRESSIVE due high testosterone levels.

Question 3

what is the criminal personality then?

Answer 3

NUERTOIC-EXTRAVERT-PSYCHOTIC.

N= unstable.
E=seek more arousal
P=aggressive.

Question 4

what is the role of socialisation?

Answer 4

eysenck saw criminal behaviour as being developmentally IMMATURE and have a need for GRATIFICATION.

SOCIALISATION teaches DELAYED gratification but nuerotics-extraverts are HARD to condition due to their NS dont respond to anti-social impulses with anxiety and act MORE anti-social as a result.

Question 5

how do we measure criminal personality?

Answer 5

using eysenck personality inventory.

a SELF-REPORT psych test which locates ppts along the E,N,P dimensions to DETERMINE their personality type and LINK this to criminality.