According to Eysenck's theory, what three personality dimensions are associated with criminal behaviour?

Extraversion (E), neuroticism (N), and psychoticism (P).

In Eysenck's theory, what is the proposed basis of the personality traits linked to offending?

The personality traits have a biological basis.

Define extraversion as a personality dimension in Eysenck's theory of criminal behaviour.

Extraversion refers to the tendency to be outgoing, sensation-seeking, and sociable; extraverts have chronically under-aroused nervous systems and seek stimulation.

How does Eysenck's theory explain why high extraversion might contribute to offending behaviour?

Extraverts are under-aroused and crave stimulation, making them more likely to engage in risk-taking and impulsive behaviours, including crime, to increase their arousal levels.

Define neuroticism as a personality dimension in Eysenck's theory.

Neuroticism refers to emotional instability, characterised by high levels of anxiety, moodiness, and a tendency to react strongly to stressful situations.

Why might high neuroticism increase the likelihood of criminal behaviour according to Eysenck?

High neuroticism leads to emotional instability and overreaction to threat, making individuals more likely to behave unpredictably and impulsively, which can result in criminal acts.

AQA A-Level Psychology 7182

Social Influence

Topic overview Types of conformity and explanations for conformity Conformity to social roles: Zimbardo's prison study Explanations for obedience Resistance to social influence Minority influence Social influence and social change

Memory

Topic overview The multi-store model of memory Types of long-term memory The working memory model Explanations for forgetting Factors affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony

Attachment

Topic overview Caregiver-infant interactions: reciprocity and interactional synchrony Schaffer's stages of attachment Multiple attachments and the role of the father Animal studies of attachment Explanations of attachment Ainsworth's Strange Situation and types of attachment Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation and effects of institutionalisation Influence of early attachment on relationships Cultural variations in attachment

Approaches in Psychology

Topic overview Origins of Psychology: Wundt, introspection and the emergence of Psychology as a science Learning approaches The cognitive approach The biological approach The psychodynamic approach Humanistic Psychology Comparison of approaches

Biopsychology

Topic overview Divisions of the nervous system Structure and function of neurons and synaptic transmission The endocrine system The fight or flight response Ways of studying the brain Localisation of function and hemispheric lateralisation Plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma Biological rhythms: circadian, infradian and ultradian

Clinical Psychology and Mental Health

Topic overview Definitions in the field of mental health Characteristics of phobias, depression and OCD Behavioural approach to explaining and treating phobias Cognitive approach to explaining and treating depression Biological approach to explaining and treating OCD

Research Methods

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Quantitative and Qualitative Data

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Data Handling and Analysis

Topic overview Primary and secondary data Descriptive statistics Presentation and display of quantitative data Distributions Analysis and interpretation of correlation Levels of measurement Coding in content analysis

Inferential Testing

Topic overview The sign test Probability and significance Factors affecting the choice of statistical test

Issues and Debates in Psychology

Topic overview Gender and culture in Psychology Free will and determinism The nature-nurture debate Holism and reductionism Idiographic and nomothetic approaches Ethical implications of research and social sensitivity

RelationshipsOption 1

Topic overview Factors affecting attraction in romantic relationships Evolutionary explanations for partner preferences Theories of romantic relationships Online relationships Parasocial relationships

GenderOption 1

Topic overview Sex, gender, sex-role stereotypes and androgyny Chromosomes and hormones in biological sex Cognitive explanations of gender development Psychodynamic explanation of gender development Social learning theory as applied to gender development Gender incongruence

Cognition and DevelopmentOption 1

Topic overview Vygotsky's theory of cognitive development Piaget's theory of cognitive development Baillargeon's explanation of early infant abilities The development of social cognition

SchizophreniaOption 2

Topic overview Symptoms of schizophrenia and issues in diagnosis Biological explanations for schizophrenia Psychological explanations for schizophrenia Drug therapy for schizophrenia Psychological therapies for schizophrenia The interactionist approach to schizophrenia

Eating BehaviourOption 2

Topic overview Explanations for food preferences Neural and hormonal mechanisms in eating behaviour Biological explanations for anorexia nervosa Psychological explanations for anorexia nervosa Biological explanations for obesity Psychological explanations for obesity

StressOption 2

Topic overview The physiology of stress The role of stress in illness Sources of stress Measuring stress Individual differences in stress Managing and coping with stress

AggressionOption 3

Topic overview Neural and hormonal mechanisms in aggression Genetic factors in aggression Ethological and evolutionary explanations of aggression Social psychological explanations of human aggression Institutional aggression in prisons Media influences on aggression

Forensic PsychologyOption 3

Topic overview Offender profiling Biological explanations of offending behaviour Psychological explanations of offending behaviour Dealing with offending behaviour

AddictionOption 3

Topic overview Describing addiction Risk factors in the development of addiction Reducing addiction Prochaska's six-stage model of behaviour change Theory of planned behaviour as applied to reducing addiction

Explanations for Nicotine AddictionOption 3

Topic overview Brain neurochemistry, including the role of dopamine Learning theory as applied to nicotine addiction, including reference to cue reactivity

Explanations for Gambling AddictionOption 3

Topic overview Learning theory as applied to gambling, including reference to partial and variable reinforcement Cognitive theory as applied to gambling, including reference to cognitive bias

Forensic Psychology

Psychological explanations of offending behaviour

5 things to know
Paper 3

Overview

Eysenck's personality dimensions and their link to offending, Kohlberg's levels of moral reasoning, and cognitive distortions.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Who and when

Which personality dimensions did Eysenck link to offending?

Key term

Define Eysenck's three personality dimensions.

Process

How does Kohlberg's moral development relate to offending?

Key term

What are cognitive distortions, and give two examples.

Who and when

What did Sutherland propose about how offending is learned?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
According to Eysenck's theory, what three personality dimensions are associated with criminal behaviour?
Model answer
Extraversion (E), neuroticism (N), and psychoticism (P).
2
In Eysenck's theory, what is the proposed basis of the personality traits linked to offending?
Model answer
The personality traits have a biological basis.
3
Define extraversion as a personality dimension in Eysenck's theory of criminal behaviour.
Model answer
Extraversion refers to the tendency to be outgoing, sensation-seeking, and sociable; extraverts have chronically under-aroused nervous systems and seek stimulation.
4
How does Eysenck's theory explain why high extraversion might contribute to offending behaviour?
Model answer
Extraverts are under-aroused and crave stimulation, making them more likely to engage in risk-taking and impulsive behaviours, including crime, to increase their arousal levels.
5
Define neuroticism as a personality dimension in Eysenck's theory.
Model answer
Neuroticism refers to emotional instability, characterised by high levels of anxiety, moodiness, and a tendency to react strongly to stressful situations.
6
Why might high neuroticism increase the likelihood of criminal behaviour according to Eysenck?
Model answer
High neuroticism leads to emotional instability and overreaction to threat, making individuals more likely to behave unpredictably and impulsively, which can result in criminal acts.

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Social Influence

Memory

Attachment

Approaches in Psychology

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