psychological explanations - Eysenck

Question 1

Personality theory -

Answer 1

Eysenck proposed that behaviour could be represented along two dimensions : introversion - extraversion and neuroticism - stability
-he later added a third dimension - psychoticism - sociability

Question 2

biological basis of personality types - Extraverts

Answer 2

Extraverts have an underachieve nervous system which means they constantly seek excitement, stimulation and are likely to engage in risk- taking behaviours

Question 3

biological - neurotic -

Answer 3

individuals have a high level of reactivity in the sympathetic nervous system - responding quickly to situations of threat - leading to a nervous jumpy and overanxious personality - general instability means their behaviour is hard to predict

Question 4

biological - psychotic -

Answer 4

individuals are suggested to have higher levels of testosterone and are unemotional and prone to aggression

Question 5

extravert vs introvert

Answer 5

An extrovert is someone who is sociable, talkative, more impulsive and risk-taking.
In contrast, an introvert is someone who prefers to spend time alone and is less impulsive and less inclined to take risks.

Question 6

Neurotic vs stable

Answer 6

A neurotic person is someone who is prone to strong negative emotions such as anxiety, worry, nervousness, and jealousy.
In contrast, a stable person is (as the name suggests) more emotionally stable and calm.

Question 7

psychotic vs non - psychotic

Answer 7

A psychotic person lacks empathy, does not feel guilt, and is aggressive and unconventional.
In contrast, the majority of people are non-psychotic – they have a conscience and feel empathy and guilt.

Question 8

how can traits be measured

Answer 8

by completing a questionnaire called the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire.

Question 9

+research support FURNHAM

Answer 9

Furnham (1984) tested 210 subjects using Eysenck’s personality theory, a social skills test, and a test of anomie (which basically means moral values). Of these 3 tests, the results of Eysenck’s personality theory were the most accurate predictors of criminal behaviour, which supports the criminal personality theory explanation of criminal behaviour.

Question 10

+research support (eysenck)

Answer 10

compared 2070 prisoners scores on the personality test with 2422 controls - on all measures - prisoners recorded high average scores than controls - this agrees with the predictions of the theory that offenders rate higher than average across the 3 dimensions Eysenck identified

Question 11

-counter research (Farrington)

Answer 11

conducted a meta analysis of relevant studies and reported that offenders tended to score high on measure of psychotisism but not for extraversion and neuroticism

Question 12

methodological issues- eysenck

Answer 12

much of the research linking criminality with personality type uses self-report methods - such as personality tests
-self reports can be unreliable as the answer depends on mood and ppts can lie to appear more socially desirable