Summary
Summary Notes covering everything for psychological explanations of offending
- Course
- Institution
These notes will allow you to write grade A/A* essays for psychological explanations for offending
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
tatwal2006
Content preview
PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF OFFENDING: Focus on lifeexperiences + thought process of criminals
EYSENCK’S THEORY OF CRIMINAL PERSONALITY
- Suggests that personality is biologically based + personality traits include
dimensions of extraversion + neuroticism that can be measured using personality
questionnaire
- Eysenck suggested that criminals would score highly on 3 dimensions / 3 Aspects
of criminal personality
1. EXTRAVERSION = Criminals tend to have an underactive nervous
system which means they require more environmental stimulation to
be aroused
a. Environmental stimulation could lead to criminal behaviour
2. NEUROTICISM = Criminals tend to have high levels of reactivity in
sympathetic nervous system which makes them more volatile +
reactive
a. More likely to engage in criminal behaviour
3. PSYCHOTICISM = Criminals tend to have high levels of testosterone
which increases the probability that the individual is cold and
aggressive
- Eysenck suggested that criminal behaviour was developmentally immature +
criminals were concerned with instant gratification
o Individuals that scored high N + E = struggled to learn delayed
gratification in childhood + less likely to socialise correctly
COGNITIVE EXPLANATIONS
- Suggests that cognitive distortions increases the chances of criminal behaviour
o COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS
Patterns of negative, faulty + exaggerated though which can
reinforce maladaptive behaviours + allow offenders to justify their
actions
2 types : HAB + Minimalisation
o HOSTILE ATTRIBUTION BIAS (HAB)
Refers to the extent to which an individual interprets the actions of
others as hostile
Person with high HAB = likely to misinterpret benign actions of
another as hostility towards them
Becomes an issue as those with high HAB are more likely to act
upon the misread cues + more likely to engage in criminal
behaviour
o MINIMALISATION
Offenders are more likely to minimise/down play the severity of the
circumstances + place blame on the victim in order to reduce guilt
Also viewed as denial
o LEVEL OF MORAL REASONING
Kohlberg = Claimed as indivudals mature their precept ion of right
and wrong becomes more sophisticated
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller tatwal2006. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.33. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
52510 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now