AO1

• sociWhat are the 3 dimensions behaviour could be represented along according to Eysenck?

  • Introversion - extroversion (E)
  • Neuroticism - stability (N)
  • Psychoticism - sociability (P)
• According to Eysenck, our personality traits are biological in origin and come through the type of nervous system we inherit. Thus all personality types, including the criminal personality type, have an innate, biological basis
• What is the criminal personality?

  A feature of Eysenck’s theory of crime, an individual who scores highly on measures of extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism and cannot easily be conditioned, is cold and unfeeling, and is likely to engage in offending behaviour
• What are the characteristics of an extravert?


  They have an underactive nervous system which means they constantly seek excitement, stimulation and are likely to engage in risk-taking behaviours. They also tend not to condition easily and therefore do not learn from their mistakes
• What are the characteristics of a neurotic?


  They have a high level of reactivity (not AROUSED) in the sympathetic nervous system. They respond quickly to situations of threat (fight or flight). This means they tend to be nervous, jumpy and overanxious and their general instability means their behaviour is often difficult to predict
• What are the characteristics of psychotics?


  They are suggested to have higher levels of testosterone and are unemotional and prone to aggression
• The criminal personality type is neurotic - extravert- psychotic

  Neurotics are unstable and therefore prone to overreact to situations of threat. Extraverts seek more arousal and thus engage in dangerous activities. Psychotics are aggressive and lack empathy
• In Eysenck’s theory, how is personality linked to offending behaviour?

  Via socialisation processes
• Eysenck saw offending behaviour as developmentally immature in that it is selfish and concerned with immediate gratification- offenders are impatient and cannot wait for things.
• What does the process of socialisation include?

  Children are taught to become more able to delay gratification and become socially oriented
• Eysenck believed that people with high E and N scores had nervous systems that made them difficult to condition. As a result, they are less likely to learn anxiety responses to antisocial impulses and, consequently, they would be more likely to act antisocially in situations where the opportunity presented itself
• Eysenck developed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), a form of psychological test which locates respondents along the E, N and P dimensions to determine their personality type