Eysenck's criminal personality theories

• Eysenck's personality theory is more fixed. It suggest that the impulse to behave in a criminal manner is something people are essentially born with.
• What are the 3 personalities from Eynsecks criminal personality theory?

  • Neuroticism
  • Extraversion
  • Psychoticism
• Eysenck believed that everyone was born with these traits but to varying degrees, depending on genetic inheritance.
• What would a high score in Extraversion mean?

  • the individual was an extrovert.
• What will be someone with a low score in Extraversion be?

  • he would be an introvert
• What would it mean if an individual had a high Neuroticism score?

  • would be classed as neurotic
• what would an individual with a high Psychoticism be considered as?

  • he would be considered as Psychotic.
• What would be the characteristics of someone who scores high in Extraversion?

  • out-going
  • sociable
  • confident
• What are the characteristics of someone who score low in the extraversion test?

  • Quiet
  • shy
  • Unassertive
• What are the characteristics of someone who scores high on Neuroticism?

  • anxious
  • angry
  • prone to feeling guilty
• What is the opposite of Neuroticism?

  • Stability
• What re the characteristics of one who score low on the Neuroticism test?

  • calm
  • even tempered
  • not easily stressed
• What are the characteristics of someone who scores high on the Psychoticism test?

  • impulsive
  • aggressive
  • selfish
• what are the characteristics of someone who score low on the Psychoticism test?

  • warm
  • considerable
  • consciencious
• What is the opposite of Psychoticism?

  • High impulsive control.
• According to Eysenck's theory , individuals with a criminal personality will score highly on all 3 of the scales
• Why are criminals often extroverts?

  People with this trait need a lot of stimulation from the enviroment and are often thrill seekers. This involvement can be seen through he involvement in criminal Activity.
• Why are criminals often neurotic?

  The can get stuck in a pattern of behaviour to relieve their high anxiety levels, which can include criminal behaviour: Their high anxiety can also get in the way of attempts to punish criminal or anti - social behaviour, and as a result, they don't easily learn from previous mistakes.
• Why are do Criminals often Score high on the Psychoticism scale?

  The characteristics of these people are directly related to crime.
• Eysenck argued that there is a biological element to criminal behaviour by linking criminal personality traits to the central nervous system.
• What is the role of the Reticular Activation system and cerebral cortex in Extroverts?

  The RETICULAR ACTIVTAION SYSTEM(RAS) is the part of the brain stem that links the brain and the spinal chord and regulates the stimuli sent to the cerebral cortex .Eysenck argued that in extroverts the cerebral cortex is under aroused because the stimuli is restricted by RAS. The Cerebral cortex is 'hungry' for stimulation, which can be gained thorough risky , lawless behaviour.
• What is the role of the dopamine system rewards systems?

  Extrovert also have a stronger dopamine reward system, means that they respond more positively to reinforcers , like sex and money to the point where they need to acquired them illegally.