AC 3.2 Evaluation of Individualistic Theories

• What are the four types of Individualistic theories?

  Learning, Psychodynamic, Personality & Cognitive
• What is one strength of the learning theory (Skinner)?

  -based on scientific and objective findings

  -Skinner's study = observing rats in a box, pulled a lever and received food they would repeat (positive reinforcement)

  -less likely to repeat if they got shocked (punishment)

  -this data can be used to suggest criminality is learned
• What is one weakness of the learning theory (Skinner)?

  -the findings may not be generalized to human beings and criminal behaviour

  -Skinner used rats which do not have the same mindset as a human being
• What is one strength of the learning theory (Sutherland)?

  -Research to support his claims of differential association

  -Farrington - anti-social behaviour in 411 men in London & 45% went on to commit crime.

  -crime in the family was one of the common traits which suggested that exposure to criminal behaviour does influence people to commit crime = validity
• What is one weakness of the learning theory (Sutherland &Bandura)?

  -could be argued as too deterministic

  -Just because someone is exposed to criminal behaviour, doesn't mean they will go on to commit crime

  -they have morals and know right from wrong
• What is one strength of the learning theory (Bandura)?

  -considers that we learn from the experiences of others and not just our own

  -Bandura's study = the children learned their behaviour by observing the adults and did not have to learn through their own experiences
• What is one weakness of the learning theory (Bandura)?

  -could be argued as not valid as participants were observed in a lab under research conditions

  -this leads to people exhibiting demand characteristics as they know they are being watched.
• What is one strength of the learning theory (Bandura - role models)?


  -shows the importance of role-models in shaping criminal behaviour .

  -role models = people who are similar to the observer in some way (gender) and of a higher status (older)
• What is one strength of the psychodynamic theory (Freud 1)?

  - Freud's study highlights the importance of early socialization and family relationships

  -Stable socialization will lead to a child developing a normal superego, stopping them acting on their ID and ego meaning they are less likely to commit crimes
• What is one weakness of the psychodynamic theory (Freud 1)?

  -no evidence that the unconscious mind exists

  -difficult to scientifically prove its existence

  -lacking in validity
• What is another strength of the psychodynamic theory (Freud 2)?

  -Some impact on policies in relation to dealing with crime

  -Freud's theory influenced psychoanalysis which involves gaining access to a person's unconscious thoughts

  -focus on providing children with good role models so they have an adequately developed super-ego to prevent crime

  -gives a practical solution in dealing with crime, using the theory to understand why people commit crimes.
• What is another weakness of the psychodynamic theory (Freud 2)?

  -argued to be deterministic

  -poor socialization does not always lead to criminal behaviour

  -may not commit crimes due to morals, fear and personal aspirations
• What is one strength of the psychodynamic theory (Bowlby)?

  -supported by his study

  -44 thieves study found that criminals were more likely to have affectionless psychopathy compared to non-criminals as a result of maternal deprivation (39% vs 5%)

  -suggests validity to the theory
• What is one weakness of the psychodynamic theory (Bowlby)?

  -suggests other reasons for criminal behaviour

  -doesn't explain why the other 61% of thieves committed crimes, meaning we can't generalize upon his work
• What is another weakness of the psychodynamic theory (Bowlby 2)?

  -it was a retrospective study so offenders and their mothers had to recall past events from years ago

  -problematic as their memories might not be clear which means this study might lack validity
• What is one strength of the cognitive theory (PICTS)?

  -led to real life application & PICTS

  -Self-report survey in which criminals can be measured according to their cognitive thinking style and therefore, an understanding of their criminal behaviour & triggers can be established.
• What is one weakness of the cognitive theory (control group)?

  -both Yochelson and Samenow & Kohlberg failed to use control groups to measure if non-criminals made the same thinking errors

  -it is important to use a control group because you need a group to compare your findings to, meaning we can't generalize upon his study
• What is another strength of the cognitive theory (CBT)?

  -treatments like CBT have been developed with the idea that criminal thinking can be corrected

  -this is useful because it doesn't just provide an explanation to criminal behaviour but also how to deal with criminals and reduce their behaviour.
• What is another weakness of the cognitive theory (representation)?

  -samples used in studies were not very representative

  -their were no women and most men were in a psychiatric hospital (Yochelson &Samenow)

  -This means the findings cannot be generalized upon the wider society
• What is a third strength of the cognitive theory (Kohlberg)?

  -studies have shown delinquents have an immature moral development as Kohlberg's study suggests

  -this means the cognitive theory has reliability
• What is a third weakness of the cognitive theory (deterministic) ?


  -argued to be deterministic

  -Kohlberg's study suggests that immoral thinking will led to immoral behaviour

  -However, a person may think immorally but may not necessarily act immorally so they do not go on to commit crimes.
• What is one strength of the personality theory (surveys)?

  -can measure criminality through surveys

  -asking respondents to fill out questionnaire's such as the EPQ allows criminals traits to be measured to predict the likelihood of a person becoming a criminal?
• What is one weakness of the personality theory?

  -reliant of self report surveys like the EPQ

  -someone may not answer truthfully because they might be embarrassed and want to achieve social reliability

  -lacks validity
• What is another strength of the personality theory (further evidence)?

  -supports link between personality and criminality

  -Rushton & Christjohn's study - compared E, P, N scores with self-reports of delinquency in students

  -found that students who reported higher levels of delinquency also scored high on the E,P,N

  -personality theory ahs reliability
• What is another weakness of the personality theory (causation/correlation)?

  -difficult to determine is personality does cause criminality or it is just a correlation

  -Rushton & Christjohn found a positive correlation between delinquency and the EPQ but could not conclude causation

  -may influence not cause criminality
• What is third strength of the personality theory (practical use)?

  -practical use for the theory in controlling criminal behaviour

  -by understanding a persons personality, policies can be introduced to control their stimulation such as aversion therapy so crime can be controlled
• What is a third weakness of the personality (deterministic)?


  -argued to be too deterministic

  -their scan be argued because just because someone has a high E and N score doesn't necessarily mean they will go on to commit crimes due to morals, upbringing and fear