Psychological explanations of offending

Which one of the following describes Eysenck’s criminal personality type?

Write the correct letter in your answer book.

A Someone with a high extraversion score and a low neuroticism score, who is impulsive and unstable.

B Someone with a high neuroticism score and a high extraversion score, who is impulsive and unstable.

C Someone with a high neuroticism score and a high introversion score, who is unstable and lacks empathy.

D Someone with a low extraversion score and a high neuroticism score, who is unstable and lacks empathy.

Debi is a thief. She describes what she thinks about her crimes to a newspaper reporter.

“I like having good stuff, like a big TV and a nice mobile phone. It’s exciting to take other people’s stuff and it doesn’t hurt anyone. Nobody cares. The police don’t bother me. I’ve been doing it for years and I never get caught, so it’s OK. If I do get caught, it would only be a tiny fine, so that’s nothing. My mates show me respect – they know I can get them whatever they want.”

Discuss level of moral reasoning as an explanation for offending. Refer to Debi’s comments in your answer.

Outline Eysenck’s theory of the criminal personality.

Describe how cognitive distortions might be involved in offending behaviour.

Evaluate the role of cognitive distortions in offending.

Discuss psychodynamic explanations of offending.

Describe psychodynamic explanation(s) for offending behaviour.

Researchers studied three generations of several families, noting the frequency and type of offending. They found that sons and grandsons of offenders often committed similar crimes themselves. The researchers also interviewed people who knew the families, such as friends and neighbours. Most friends and neighbours were not concerned by the offending behaviour, and some said it was a good way to behave in the circumstances.

Describe differential association theory in the context of offending. Refer to the study above in your answer.

Which two of the following statements about Eysenck’s theory of the criminal personality are TRUE ? Write the two correct letters in your answer book.

A The criminal personality avoids sensation-seeking situations

B The criminal personality cannot be conditioned easily

C The criminal personality has a high level of introversion

D The criminal personality has an over-aroused nervous system

E The criminal personality scores highly on neuroticism

Describe and evaluate cognitive explanations for offending.