Eysenck

• Foundation

  Eysenck (1963) proposed a general theory of personality, suggesting all personalities consist of certain traits on some level.

  • This has been used as a psychological explanation for offending behaviour
• Concepts


  Originally, Eysenck argued there were just 2 dimensions of personality: Extraversion (E) and Neuroticism (N).

  • Extraversion refers to how sociable, outgoing and impulsive an individual is.
  • Neuroticism is the tendency to exhibit behaviours that indicate emotional instability (e.g. anxiety, obsessiveness)

  Psychoticism was added as a 3rd dimension in 1972, following his work with schizophrenics.

  • Individuals rating high on the P-scale are egocentric, insensitive, and lack a conscience.
• Biological Basis + How they explain criminal behaviour

  Theory posits each trait can be traced back to a biological cause, but accepts environmental factors (E.g. socialisation) play a role
• Extraversion


  Determined by level of cortical arousal in the brain - high activity in the Ventral Striatum linked to extraverts' propensity to seek stimulation
• Extraverts may engage in criminal activity

  As risk-taking behaviours increase arousal
• Neurotic personalities


  Tend to be highly reactive due to heightened sensitivity in the SNS
• Neurotic personalities


  Are more likely to respond irrationally to conflict + more easily conditioned to commit crimes
• Psychotics


  Lack concern for their victim and don't feel guilt
• Eysenck's Personality Questionaire (EPQ)


  EPQ is one of the measures for Eysenck's Theory, consisting of questions with regard to each of the 3 traits. Full version = 100 items, Short version = 48 items.

  Extraversion:

  • Do you like to talk a lot?
  • Are you rather lively?

  Neuroticism:

  • Do you worry about thing that might happen?
  • Are your feelings rather easily hurt?

  Psychoticism:

  • do you get in lots of fights?