Eysenck's Theory of Criminal Personality
- Created by: niamhkm08
- Created on: 02-03-21 14:55
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- EYSENCK'S THEORY OF CRIMINAL PERSONALITY
- Eysenck (1967) developed a theory of personality based on the idea that character traits (such as moodiness, talkativeness, etc) tend to cluster together along 3 dimensions
- These 3 dimensions are:
- Extroversion/ Introversion
- Extroverts are characterised as outgoing, having positive emotions, but may get bored easily.
- Neuroticism/ Stability
- Neuroticism is the tendency to experience negative emotional states (such as, anger anxiety, and depression) rather than positive emotional states.
- Psychoticism/Normality
- Psychotics are egocentric, aggressive, impulsive, impersonal, and lack in empathy.
- These can be measured on Eysenck's Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), using a series of yes and no questions.
- Extroversion/ Introversion
- These 3 dimensions are:
- The link between criminal behaviour and personality can be explained in terms of AROUSAL.
- Extroverts seek MORE arousal and thus engage in more dangerous activities
- Neurotics are UNSTABLE and therefore prone to over-react to situations of threat (e.g., fight or flight), which would explain some elements of criminal activity.
- Psychoticism can easily be linked to criminality because individuals are aggressive and lack empathy.
- Psychoticism has been related to HIGHER levels of TESTOSTERONE.
- Psychoticism can easily be linked to criminality because individuals are aggressive and lack empathy.
- The criminal personality type is a NEUROTIC/ EXTROVERT
- A combination of all characteristics and behaviours described for both neuroticism and extroversion.
- Eysenck also explained criminality in terms of the outcome between INNATE (biologically determined), PERSONALITY and SOCIALISATION.
- A person is born with certain personality traits, but INTERACTION with the environment is key in the development of criminality.
- A STUDY BY ESYENCK:
- Eysenck and Eysenck (1970) carried out their EPQ on a large group of MALE offenders.
- It was found that while consistently high scores were recorded for PSYCHOTICISM and NEUROTICISM, it was not found for extroversion as predicted.
- In comparison, a REPEAT of the study conducted on FEMALE offenders did confirm Eysenck's prediction across the 3 dimensions, which adds a question mark to the role of extroversion in criminality.
- It was found that while consistently high scores were recorded for PSYCHOTICISM and NEUROTICISM, it was not found for extroversion as predicted.
- This was further raised by FARRINGTON et al. (1982), who conducted a review of 16 studies into Eysenck's personality theory and the links to criminality, with a particular focus on YOUNG offenders.
- The researchers found a consistent link between high scores of PSYCHOTICISM and NEUROTICISM, but not the same link with extraversion suggesting that the links between extroversion and criminal behaviour are UNCLEAR.
- Eysenck and Eysenck (1970) carried out their EPQ on a large group of MALE offenders.
- Eysenck (1967) developed a theory of personality based on the idea that character traits (such as moodiness, talkativeness, etc) tend to cluster together along 3 dimensions
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