Psychological theory of criminality
- Created by: StarrWinchester
- Created on: 14-02-20 14:07
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- Psychological theory of criminality
- Eysenck
- He proposed a theory of personality based on biological factors. He argued that individuals/criminals inherited a type of nervous system that affects their ability to learn and adapt to their environment
- He suggested these traits can be measured by a personality test
- Suggested that those who score highly on extraversion are more likely to be criminal
- This could be because they have low resting heart rates and so are motivated to increase the arousal that their brain craves
- Introverts have high resting heart rates so don't need such thrill seeking activities as they already have higher than average arousal in their brains.
- The reticulo cortical system is a part of the brain which responds to stress. A stress hormone called cortisol is produced in response to stressors so introverts will produce more as their reticulo cortical system is very sensitive
- Introverts have high resting heart rates so don't need such thrill seeking activities as they already have higher than average arousal in their brains.
- This could be because they have low resting heart rates and so are motivated to increase the arousal that their brain craves
- He proposed a theory of personality based on biological factors. He argued that individuals/criminals inherited a type of nervous system that affects their ability to learn and adapt to their environment
- What is personality?
- The individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. They make us unique.
- Assumption
- Assumes that criminality is determined by how their nervous system functions as this can determine their personality
- Research that supports Eysenck's theory
- Rushton & Christjohn (1981) looked at delinquency and personalities of 410 students. They found those who had higher levels of delinquency also had higher extraversion and psychotic levels.
- Research that supports Eysenck's theory
- Assumes that criminality is determined by how their nervous system functions as this can determine their personality
- Introversion and Extraversion
- Introverts are thoughtful, controlled, reliable, calm, reserved and enjoy time alone
- Extroverts are thrill seekers, have a low resting heart rate, are sociable and outgoing
- Extraverts are more likely to be criminal
- Stable and Neuroticism
- Stable people are predictable, consistent, laidback, have stable moods and don't experience intense stress
- Neurotic people have low self control, are anxious, have unreliable moods, high stress and recover from stress slowly
- Neurotic people are more likely to be criminal
- Self-control and Psychoticism
- High self control means a person is restrained, calm, thoughtful and considerate
- A psychotic person is cold, aggressive, egocentric, impulsive and anti-social
- Psychotic people are more likely to be criminal
- Eysenck
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