Eysenck’s theory of the criminal - Forensic Psychology [AQA ALevel]

Summary

This video explores psychological explanations of offending behavior, focusing on Eysenck's theory of personality. Eysenck links criminality to personality traits shaped by the nervous system, which are biologically inherited. He identifies three dimensions of personality: extroversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism. According to Eysenck, criminals often score highly on these traits, leading to impulsive and anti-social behavior. The video also evaluates the theory, presenting supporting evidence, while addressing criticisms, such as the theory's oversimplification of personality and its failure to account for changes over a lifespan. Alternative theories, such as Moffitt's dual taxonomy of offenders, are also discussed.

Takeaways

• 😀 Eysenck's theory suggests that offending behavior is linked to personality type, which is influenced by the nervous system and genetic makeup.
• 😀 Eysenck identifies three key dimensions of personality: extroversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism.
• 😀 Extroverts are more likely to engage in risky and stimulating behavior due to an under-aroused nervous system, and are harder to condition or socialise.
• 😀 Introverts, in contrast, have over-aroused nervous systems and avoid stimulation and social attention.
• 😀 Neurotic individuals have easily triggered nervous systems, making them more anxious and emotionally reactive, while stable individuals remain calm even under stress.
• 😀 Psychoticism refers to the lack of emotional response or empathy for others, with highly psychotic individuals showing cold, unemotional behaviors.
• 😀 The criminal personality, according to Eysenck, is characterized by being highly extroverted, neurotic, and psychotic.
• 😀 McGurk and McDuggall's study found that convicted criminals were more likely to exhibit the extroverted, neurotic, and psychotic personality traits predicted by Eysenck's theory.
• 😀 A limitation of Eysenck's theory is that it assumes personality is stable throughout life, but offending rates are significantly higher during adolescence.
• 😀 Moffitt’s dual taxonomy model offers an alternative, proposing that there are two types of offenders: life-course persistent offenders and adolescent-limited offenders.
• 😀 Modern personality theories, like Digman's five-factor model, argue that Eysenck's three dimensions are too simplistic, adding conscientiousness and agreeableness to provide a more rounded view of criminality.

Q & A

What is Eysenck's theory of offending behavior?

Eysenck’s theory suggests that offending behavior is linked to personality types, which are influenced by the nervous system. He proposes that criminals tend to have certain personality traits, such as being extroverted, neurotic, and psychotic, which make them more prone to criminal behavior.

How does Eysenck explain the relationship between personality and the nervous system?

Eysenck believes that personality types are a result of the type of nervous system a person has, which is determined by their genetic makeup. Extroverts, for example, have an under-aroused nervous system and seek stimulation, while introverts have an over-aroused nervous system and avoid stimulation.

What are the three dimensions of personality according to Eysenck?

Eysenck’s three personality dimensions are: 1) Extraversion vs. Introversion, 2) Neuroticism vs. Stability, and 3) Psychoticism vs. Low psychoticism. These dimensions reflect how individuals respond to stimuli and regulate their emotional and social behavior.

What is the criminal personality type according to Eysenck?

The criminal personality type, according to Eysenck, is characterized by being highly extroverted, highly neurotic, and highly psychotic. Such individuals seek risky stimulation, fail to learn from consequences, are easily triggered into fight-or-flight responses, and show little empathy for others.

What evidence supports Eysenck's theory of offending behavior?

A study by McGurk and McDougall found that offenders scored higher on extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism when compared to a group of students. This supports Eysenck's theory that certain personality traits are more common in offenders.

What are some limitations of Eysenck's theory?

One limitation is that Eysenck’s theory assumes personality is stable and criminal behavior is a result of one fixed personality type. However, the level of offending is much higher in adolescents, suggesting that personality and offending behavior may change over time. Additionally, the theory oversimplifies criminality by focusing only on three dimensions of personality.

How does Moffitt's dual taxonomy theory differ from Eysenck's explanation?

Moffitt's dual taxonomy theory proposes two types of offenders: life-course persistent offenders, who commit crimes throughout their lives, and adolescent-limited offenders, who stop their anti-social behavior in adulthood. This model offers a more nuanced understanding of criminal behavior than Eysenck’s theory, which assumes a single, consistent criminal personality type.

How do modern personality theories critique Eysenck’s model?

Modern personality theorists, such as Digman with his five-factor model, argue that Eysenck’s three-dimensional model is too simplistic. They suggest that additional dimensions, such as conscientiousness and agreeableness, are important in understanding personality and criminal behavior.

What biological evidence supports Eysenck’s theory of criminal behavior?

There is significant biological evidence suggesting that offending behavior may have neural and genetic bases. Eysenck’s theory could be seen as a psychological result of these biological factors, which influence the way individuals' nervous systems respond to stimuli and regulate behavior.

What are the ethical implications of Eysenck's theory in criminal justice?

If Eysenck’s theory is correct, it raises ethical concerns about whether individuals with certain personality traits should be treated differently in the criminal justice system. For instance, should people with personalities that predispose them to criminal behavior be given lighter sentences or special treatment? The theory also raises questions about the role of biology in determining criminal responsibility.