Eysencks theory of criminal personality
based on biological factors arguing individuals inherit a type of nervous system that affects their ability to learn and adapt to the environment
Eysencks three dimensions
Extraversion
neuroticism
psychoticism
Extraversion
enjoy risk and danger as their nervous system is under aroused
Neuroticism
negative outlook
over reactive response to threat- flight or fight
Psychoticism
refers to aggressive anti social people
related to high testosterone
links to criminal behaviour
Eysenck explained criminality in terms of outcome between innate personality and socialisation
interactionist view
a person may be born with a personality trait and due to interactions with environment it causes the development of criminality
Strength of Eysenck study
2070 male prisoner and 2422 male controls
prisoners scored high on the 3 dimensions compared to the non criminals
weakness
individual differences
idea of one personality type explaining all offending behaviour
