Psychological explanations: Eysenck’s theory

• Personality theory


  An important figure in personality + intelligence research
• Personality


  • Behaviour could be represented along 2 dimensions: introversion-extraversion (E) + neuroticism-stability (N)
  • Later added 3rd dimension - psychoticism-sociability (P)
• The 2 dimensions combine to form a variety of personality characteristics
• Biological basis of personality

  • Personality traits are biological in origin + come about through the type of nervous system we inherit
  • All personality types - including criminal personality type - have an innate, biological basis
• Extraverts


  • Underachieve nervous system -> constantly seek excitement, stimulation + likely to engage in risk-taking behaviour
  • Tend not to condition easily + therefore don't learn from their mistakes
• Neurotic individuals


  • Have a high level of reactivity in the sympathetic nervous system - respond quickly to situations of threat
  • Tend to be nervous, jumpy + overanxious, + general instability means their behaviour is often difficult to predict
• Psychotic individuals


  • Suggested to have higher levels of testosterone + are unemotional + prone to aggression
• Criminal personality


  • Neurotic-extravert-psychotic
  • Neurotics are unstable + prone to overreact to situations of threat
  • Extraverts seek more arousal + engage in dangerous activities
  • Psychotics are aggressive + lack empathy
• Socialisation


  • Personality is linked to offending behaviour via socialisation processes
  • Offending behaviour is seen as developmentally immature - it's selfish + concerned w/ immediate gratification - offenders are impatient + can't wait for things
  • Process of socialisation is 1 in which children are taught to become more able to delay gratification + more socially oriented
• • People w/ high E and N scores had nervous systems that made them difficult to condition
  • Less likely you learn anxiety responses to antisocial impulses + would be more likely to act antisocially in situations where the opportunity presented itself
• Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ)


  • A form of psychological test that locates respondents along the E, N + P dimensions to determine their personality type
  • Measurement of personality was a very important part of Eysenck's theory because it enabled him to conduct research relating personality variables to other behaviours, such as criminality