Eysenck's Criminal Personality Theory

• theory states criminal behaviour is product of nature more than nurture - some people are born with a personality making them more prone to committing crime
• believed criminals had 3 main traits - extraversion, psychoticism and neuroticism
• Psychoticism:

  • overactive dopamine system
  • too many dopaminergic neurons meaning excess of dopamine
  • related to high levels of violence
• Extraversion:

  • under-stimulated RAS - stimulus could be achieved by committing crimes; stimulus then sent to cerebral cortex (conscious part of the brain that wants to be stimulated)
  • linked to dopamine reward system - extroverts need more stimulus to produce pleasure compared to introverts
  • could be driven to rape/attack someone or steal goods
• Neuroticism:

  • easily aroused ANS
  • over active limbic system - can lead to physical or sexual offences
• according to Eysenck, neurotic extroverts are most difficult personality type to condition
• Criticisms:

  • over generalisation and underplays individualistic differences
  • too deterministic - said there's little to be done but evidence suggests criminals can be rehabilitated
  • neurotic extrovert fits better with some crimes than others, eg links with murder and rape but not introverted crimes like fraud