Eysenck’s Criminal Personality 10

• PEN traits

  Extrovert

  Neurotic

  Psychotic
• Extrovert

  Introverts have relatively high levels of cortical excitation, whereas extroverts have relatively low levels. Thus, in order to maintain the optimum arousal level, extroverts require more external stimulation than introverts.

  Seek out dangerous situations and are more impulsive (theft, robbery).
• Neurotic 


  SNS activated more easily for low levels of threat - may over react to stimuli (perceive it as threatening when it isn’t).

  Opposite of emotional stability - SNS activated at higher levels of threat so stay calm in stressful situations.

  Crimes of passion.
• Psychotic

  Aggressive, egocentric, antisocial nature.

  Linked to higher levels of testosterone.

  Lack of empathy.

  Planned offences - murder.
• Eysenck (1977)


  2,070 male prisoners & 2,442 male controls administered the Eysenck personality questionnaire, which gives scores on psychoticism, neuroticism, extroversion & lie scales.

  Groups divided into age groups ranging from 16-69 years.

  Scores on psychoticism, extroversion & neuroticism fell with age for both prisoners & controls.

  Prisoners had higher scores than controls, as predicted, on all 3 scales.
• Strengths of Eysenck’s criminal personality

  Supporting evidence

  Interactionist

  Prevention methods / early intervention

  Deterministic
• Weaknesses of Eysenck’s criminal personality

  Evidence only looks at males

  Socially sensitive - labelling / self fulfilling prophecy

  Deterministic

  Questionnaire - forced to give yes / no answer, social desirability bias, may misunderstand question.