Eysenck's criminal personality theory

• What does Eysenck’s theory of the criminal personality focus on?


  It focuses on psychological influences rather than biological causes for crime.
• How does Eysenck’s theory relate personality to biological factors?

  Eysenck argues that personality is a psychological factor that is biologically determined.
• What type of theory did Hans Eysenck develop?


  He developed a trait theory of personality.
• What are the two original personality traits identified by Eysenck?


  Extraversion-introversion and neuroticism-stability.
• What third trait did Eysenck add to his personality theory?

  Psychoticism.
• How is an extravert characterized according to Eysenck?


  An extravert is sociable, impulsive, expressive, and risk-taking.
• What behaviors are associated with high neuroticism?


  Behaviors such as nervousness, anxiety, and obsessiveness.
• What characteristics define someone with high psychoticism?


  They are insensitive, unconventional, unempathic, and lack a conscience.
• What biological basis does Eysenck suggest for personality traits?


  He suggests that personality traits are inherited and have a biological basis.
• What type of personality does Eysenck identify as the criminal personality?


  The criminal personality type is neurotic-extravert.
• Why might extraverts be drawn to criminal behavior?


  For the thrill of committing a crime to satisfy their under-stimulated nervous system.
• How does a neurotic individual react according to Eysenck's theory?


  A neurotic individual may be nervous and driven to repeat behaviors until they become habitual.
• What is the implication of high psychoticism in relation to empathy?


  A psychotic individual would lack concern for others due to their lack of empathy.
• What did Eysenck and Eysenck (1977) find in their study of male prisoners?


  Prisoners recorded higher scores on measures of psychoticism, extraversion, and neuroticism than controls.
• What did Farrington (1982) conclude about offenders' personality scores?


  Offenders tended to score high on psychoticism but not on extraversion and neuroticism measures.
• How did Farrington's findings differentiate between types of offenders?


  High neuroticism was related to official offending, while high extraversion was related to self-reporting offenders.
• What issue did researchers find with Eysenck’s measurement of personality type?


  His original sample did not cover an adequate range of people.
• What did Barton and Holanchock (1979) find regarding extraversion in their study?


  They found that Hispanic and African-American offenders were less extravert than a control group.
• What criticism is made regarding the concept of a 'stable' personality?


  Critics argue that personality cannot be reduced to a single score and may change depending on context.
• What are the key components of Eysenck's personality theory?


  • Trait theory: personality consists of traits.
  • Original traits: extraversion-introversion and neuroticism-stability.
  • Added trait: psychoticism.
  • Criminal personality: neurotic-extravert with high psychoticism.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Eysenck's theory based on research findings?


  Strengths:

  • Supported by Eysenck and Eysenck (1977) findings.
  • Links personality traits to criminal behavior.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Inconsistent research results.
  • Criticism of sample diversity and measurement methods.