Eysenck's theory of criminal personality

• Personality can be measured across three dimensions of (Introversion/Extraversion), (Neuroticism/stability), and (psychoticism). Our traits are biological in origin and are determined by the type of nervous system we inherit. So the criminal personality is innate
• Those who have the criminal personality have a high reactivity to the sympathetic nervous system and score highly on extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism.
• Criminal personality traits - Underactive nervous system, always seeking stimulation or risky behaviours, unpredictable, cold, unemotional and prone to aggression.
• Criminal personality is measured by the Eysenck Personality Inventory
• Personality is linked to criminal behaviour via socialisation


  Process of socialisation is one in which children are taught to become more ale to delay gratification and more socially oriented. Accomplished through conditioning - when children act immaturely, they are punished so associate anxiety with antisocial behaviour, meaning they avoid doing these behaviours. Those with the criminal personality had NS that made them difficult to condition so do not learn easily to antisocial impulses with anxiety so act more antisocial and therefore commit crime
• EVALUATION : Supporting evidence

  Eysenck compared 2040 male prisoners personality score with 2422 male controls personality score and found the criminals had a higher score on extraversion and neuroticism. Strength as it supports the throty that criminals are likely to score high compared to non criminals on the personality quiz as stated by Eysenck
• EVALUATION: Opposing evidence


  David Farrington conducted a meta analysis on similar studies and found that although offenders would score high on psychoticism, they would score low on neuroticism and extraversion. Means that Eyesnck's theory cannot be a full explanation of criminal behaviour as the main assumptions of the theory: that criminals score high on all categories is challenged here
• EVALUATION : Idea of a single criminal personality type has been criticised

  Criticised that criminal behaviour is explained by personality alone. Moffitt identified some criminal behaviour ONLY occurs in adolescence whereas some continue into adulthood. Means that by following just personality as an indicator for criminality is a poor predictor as it can't be determined how long criminality will last as environmental factors play a part in criminality length. Demonstrates criminality is more complex than being caused by just bio factors so perhaps a biosocial approach is more appropriate
• EVALUATION : Cultural bias


  Bartol and Holanchock studied both Hispanic and African-American offenders in NYC. Organised into separate groups based on offending history and nature. All 6 groups low in extraversion compared to controls where it would be expected. Suggested to be due to the sample study was based on. Weakens Eysenck's theory as it questions to what extent the theory can be generalised to the general population and may be a culturally relative concept
• EVALUATION : Biological determinism


  States that there are biological reasons such as an overactive or underactive NS that causes criminal behaviour as they determine our personality and reactions to dangerous behaviours. Those who have an underactive NS are more likely to seek dangerous or antisocial behaviours for a "thrill". Means that if someone has an UANS they will become criminal and this is an innate factor that can't be changed. Undermines environmental factors that may influence criminal behaviour such as observing others and imitating