Psychological explanation: eysenck’s theory

• Who proposed the theory of the criminal personality?

  Hans Eysenck
• What are the two initial dimensions of Eysenck's personality theory?

  Introversion-extraversion and neuroticism-stability
• What is the third dimension added by Eysenck to his personality theory?

  Psychoticism-sociability
• According to Eysenck, what is the origin of personality traits?

  Biological in origin
• How do extraverts behave according to Eysenck's theory?

  They seek excitement and engage in risk-taking
• What characterizes neurotic individuals in Eysenck's theory?

  High reactivity in the sympathetic nervous system
• What traits are associated with psychotic individuals according to Eysenck?

  Higher testosterone, unemotional, prone to aggression
• What is the criminal personality type according to Eysenck?

  Neurotic-extravert-psychotic
• How does Eysenck link personality to offending behavior?

  Through socialization processes
• What does Eysenck believe about offenders' ability to delay gratification?

  They are impatient and cannot wait
• What is the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ)?


  A test to measure personality dimensions
• What did Sybil and Hans Eysenck's research find about prisoners' EPQ scores?

  Prisoners scored higher than controls
• What did David Farrington's meta-analysis reveal about offenders' scores?

  High on psychoticism, not on extraversion or neuroticism
• What inconsistency did Küssner's research find regarding Eysenck's theory?

  Differences in EEG measures between extraverts and introverts
• What limitation does Temie Moffett highlight about Eysenck's theory?

  Personality traits alone can't explain offending behavior
• What distinction did Moffett make regarding offending behavior?

  Adolescence-limited vs. life-course-persistent
• How does Moffett view the persistence of offending behavior?

  As a result of personality and environmental interaction
• What cultural limitation does Eysenck's theory have?

  It does not account for cultural variations
• What did Bartol and Holanchock find about Hispanic and African-American offenders?

  They were less extravert than non-offender controls
• What does Bartol and Holanchock's study suggest about Eysenck's theory?

  It questions the generalizability of the criminal personality
• What are the key components of Eysenck's theory of the criminal personality?

  • Three dimensions: E, N, P
  • Biological basis for personality traits
  • Criminal personality: neurotic-extravert-psychotic
  • Link between personality and offending behavior via socialization
  • Measurement through Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ)
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Eysenck's theory?

  Strengths:

  • Research support from Eysenck's studies
  • EPQ allows for personality measurement

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Inconsistent evidence on extraversion and neuroticism
  • Oversimplification of offending behavior
  • Cultural factors not considered
• How can Eysenck's theory be applied to fictional characters?

  • Analyze characters like the Joker
  • Assess traits: high psychoticism, neuroticism
  • Justify choices based on Eysenck's dimensions
• What methods can be used to compare offenders' personalities?

  • Administer Eysenck's Personality Questionnaire (EPQ)
  • Analyze differences in extraversion and neuroticism
  • Compare results with control groups
• Eysenck's Personality Theory

  Hans Eysenck proposed a three-factor model of personality, including psychoticism, extraversion/introversion, and neuroticism.