Psychological Explanations: Eysenck's Theory

Question 1

The criminal personality

Answer 1

An individual who scores highly on measures of extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism and cannot easily be conditioned, is cold and unfeeling, and is likely to engage in offending behaviour.

Question 2

What did Eysenck propose about behaviour?

Answer 2

Could be represented along 2 dimensions
- introversion/ extraversion (E)
- neuroticism/ stability (N)
The 2 dimensions combine to form a variety of personality characteristics or traits.
Later added third dimension - psychoticism (P)

Question 3

Introversion

Answer 3

focused more on internal thoughts, feelings and moods rather than seeking out external stimulation

Question 4

Extroversion

Answer 4

Outgoing, seek excitement, stimulation and are likely to engage in risk taking behaviours

Question 5

Neuroticism

Answer 5

Distress, dissatisfaction with themselves and their lives. More prone to negative emotions.

Question 6

Psychoticism

Answer 6

Cold, unemotional and prone to aggression and interpersonal hostility.

Question 7

Socialisation

Answer 7

The process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to society

Question 8

Personality types - Extraverts

Answer 8

underactive nervous system which means they constantly seek excitement, stimulation and are more likely to engage in risk taking behaviour
- tend not to condition easily and do not learn from their mistakes

Question 9

Personality types - Neurotic individuals

Answer 9

High level of reactivity in the sympathetic nervous system
respond quickly to situations of threat (fight or flight).
tend to be nervous, jumpy and over anxious, and their general instability means their behaviour is often difficult to predict.

Question 10

Personality types - Psychotic individuals

Answer 10

suggested to have higher levels of testosterone

- they are cold, unemotional and prone to aggression

Question 11

Measuring the criminal personality

Answer 11

the motion that personality can be measured is central to Eysenck’s personality inventory (EPI), a form of psychological test which shows peoples dimensions on the 3 scales

Question 12

The role of socialisation

Answer 12

The process of socialisation is one in which children are taught to become more able to delay gratification and more socially oriented.
- Eysenck believed people with high E and N scores had nervous systems that made them difficult to condition.