IAL Psychology paper 3
1.5 Methods
Researching in developmental psychology
Methods from paper 1 & 2 relating to developmental psychology
Clinical interviewing to understand world of the child
Ethnographic field work
Cross-cultural research
Ethics and the UNCRC (1989)
Evaluation of research
1.6 Issues
Scientificness of psychological research in developmental psychology
Strength and weaknesses
Ethical issues
2. Criminological psychology
Study of offenders and offending behaviour in order to improve crime investigations through the additions of a
psychological component such as offender profiling
2.1 Social and personality explanations for crime and anti-social behaviour
Personality
Eysenck believed people can be classified into six different types based on three dimensions of personality
- Developed psychometric test for measuring personality - EPQ (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire),
measuring people on:
1. Introversion-Extraversion (E)
- believed this dimension controlled by ascending reticular activating system (ARAS - system
triggering hormone and neurotransmitter release), thought as involved in alertness and arousal
- Extraverts: sociable, crave excitement, often carefree, optimistic and impulsive
- difficult to condition: used to explain their lack of conscience - normally when something
wrong done we feel bad because our conscience tells us it was wrong, and then we
choose not to do it again to avoid feeling bad.
- High E scores: Eysenck believed that they do not easily learn to avoid bad feelings
- chronically under-aroused → more likely risk-seeking and engage in antisocial activity
- Introverts: typically reserved and reflective individuals
2. Emotional Stability-Neuroticism (emotional instability) (N)
- Neurotic individuals may be more likely to become criminals as reaction to some kind of
emotional event, or as a habit difficult to break: unstable, find it hard to inhibit their behaviour, so
often act impulsively and exhibit violent responses more quickly
↳ Eysenck stated this is due to differences in activity of limbic system (organizes emotional
responses)
3. Psychoticism (emotional independence, cruel, aggressive and lacking empathy) (P)
- High P scorers: often uncaring of others, insensitive and do not feel guilt: committing crime may
be easy as they will not worry about effects on others
20
, IAL Psychology paper 3
- lack empathy = can harm or distress others without feelings of shame or remorse
⇒ Both E and N scores are normally distributed throughout population, while P is not: thought that people with
high E, N and P scores may be more likely to commit violent crime
Social
Labelling theory by Becker (1963): argued that being deviant is an everyday part of adolescent behaviour, but
when it is labelled as criminal it causes the individual to remain antisocial
- Labelling theory linked to stereotypical behaviour regarding all individuals and groups, including gender
and race
- Ex. black males are disproportionately stopped and searched by the police = Labelling theorists
argue that rather than involved in higher rate of offending, they are stopped because of police
stereotypes
- Labels affect treatment of individual by those around, over time the label becomes internalized and
becomes absorbed and accepted by person → behave as expected of their label
Self-fulfilling prophecy
- unknowingly causing a prediction to come true, due to simple fact that they expect it to come true
- based on idea that society's reaction to deviant behaviour has important consequences for the future
behaviour of that person
- Certain acts labelled as crime (stealing)l ⇾ person committing such acts labelled by society as criminal
- having been labelled this way: the person then treated by society in a way consistent with
criminal label (fines, imprisonment, etc)
- in turn makes person adopt the label 'criminal’ as part of their self-image, this affects their future
behaviour ⇒ adopts a criminal career as a consequence of being labelled a criminal
- A prediction coming true simply because it has been made
- Research has suggested self-fulfilling prophecy is most effective when those expecting someone to
behave in certain way, and those behaving in that way are not familiar to each other
- Also that expected behaviour is negative and not far different from individual's normal behaviour
Social learning from media
- media can serve as powerful influence on individual's behaviours, attitudes, and values
- television, movies, music, and social media, often depict certain behaviours, attitudes, and values as
more acceptable than they are = can lead individuals to imitate or adopt these
- can have two sociological effects on audience: normalize and stigmatize certain kinds of behaviours
- Ex. Violence: often depicted in glamorized or sensationalized way = may increase aggression
Anti-social personality disorder (ASPD)
- Condition characterized by lack of empathy and regard for other people, little to no regard to right and
wrong and social norms, often act very impulsive without considering consequences, displays
aggression, violence, manipulation, and irresponsibility ⇒ cause individuals to tend to commit violations
- Causes: genetics, upbringing, biology (brain differences- hormones, neurotransmitters, autonomy)
- Associated with crime and violence: ASPD in adults = high risk of engaging in criminal activity
- Lack of concern for law and rules, disregard for consequences and selfish behaviours leads to them
being more prone to crime: most imprisoned criminals have ASPD
21
1.5 Methods
Researching in developmental psychology
Methods from paper 1 & 2 relating to developmental psychology
Clinical interviewing to understand world of the child
Ethnographic field work
Cross-cultural research
Ethics and the UNCRC (1989)
Evaluation of research
1.6 Issues
Scientificness of psychological research in developmental psychology
Strength and weaknesses
Ethical issues
2. Criminological psychology
Study of offenders and offending behaviour in order to improve crime investigations through the additions of a
psychological component such as offender profiling
2.1 Social and personality explanations for crime and anti-social behaviour
Personality
Eysenck believed people can be classified into six different types based on three dimensions of personality
- Developed psychometric test for measuring personality - EPQ (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire),
measuring people on:
1. Introversion-Extraversion (E)
- believed this dimension controlled by ascending reticular activating system (ARAS - system
triggering hormone and neurotransmitter release), thought as involved in alertness and arousal
- Extraverts: sociable, crave excitement, often carefree, optimistic and impulsive
- difficult to condition: used to explain their lack of conscience - normally when something
wrong done we feel bad because our conscience tells us it was wrong, and then we
choose not to do it again to avoid feeling bad.
- High E scores: Eysenck believed that they do not easily learn to avoid bad feelings
- chronically under-aroused → more likely risk-seeking and engage in antisocial activity
- Introverts: typically reserved and reflective individuals
2. Emotional Stability-Neuroticism (emotional instability) (N)
- Neurotic individuals may be more likely to become criminals as reaction to some kind of
emotional event, or as a habit difficult to break: unstable, find it hard to inhibit their behaviour, so
often act impulsively and exhibit violent responses more quickly
↳ Eysenck stated this is due to differences in activity of limbic system (organizes emotional
responses)
3. Psychoticism (emotional independence, cruel, aggressive and lacking empathy) (P)
- High P scorers: often uncaring of others, insensitive and do not feel guilt: committing crime may
be easy as they will not worry about effects on others
20
, IAL Psychology paper 3
- lack empathy = can harm or distress others without feelings of shame or remorse
⇒ Both E and N scores are normally distributed throughout population, while P is not: thought that people with
high E, N and P scores may be more likely to commit violent crime
Social
Labelling theory by Becker (1963): argued that being deviant is an everyday part of adolescent behaviour, but
when it is labelled as criminal it causes the individual to remain antisocial
- Labelling theory linked to stereotypical behaviour regarding all individuals and groups, including gender
and race
- Ex. black males are disproportionately stopped and searched by the police = Labelling theorists
argue that rather than involved in higher rate of offending, they are stopped because of police
stereotypes
- Labels affect treatment of individual by those around, over time the label becomes internalized and
becomes absorbed and accepted by person → behave as expected of their label
Self-fulfilling prophecy
- unknowingly causing a prediction to come true, due to simple fact that they expect it to come true
- based on idea that society's reaction to deviant behaviour has important consequences for the future
behaviour of that person
- Certain acts labelled as crime (stealing)l ⇾ person committing such acts labelled by society as criminal
- having been labelled this way: the person then treated by society in a way consistent with
criminal label (fines, imprisonment, etc)
- in turn makes person adopt the label 'criminal’ as part of their self-image, this affects their future
behaviour ⇒ adopts a criminal career as a consequence of being labelled a criminal
- A prediction coming true simply because it has been made
- Research has suggested self-fulfilling prophecy is most effective when those expecting someone to
behave in certain way, and those behaving in that way are not familiar to each other
- Also that expected behaviour is negative and not far different from individual's normal behaviour
Social learning from media
- media can serve as powerful influence on individual's behaviours, attitudes, and values
- television, movies, music, and social media, often depict certain behaviours, attitudes, and values as
more acceptable than they are = can lead individuals to imitate or adopt these
- can have two sociological effects on audience: normalize and stigmatize certain kinds of behaviours
- Ex. Violence: often depicted in glamorized or sensationalized way = may increase aggression
Anti-social personality disorder (ASPD)
- Condition characterized by lack of empathy and regard for other people, little to no regard to right and
wrong and social norms, often act very impulsive without considering consequences, displays
aggression, violence, manipulation, and irresponsibility ⇒ cause individuals to tend to commit violations
- Causes: genetics, upbringing, biology (brain differences- hormones, neurotransmitters, autonomy)
- Associated with crime and violence: ASPD in adults = high risk of engaging in criminal activity
- Lack of concern for law and rules, disregard for consequences and selfish behaviours leads to them
being more prone to crime: most imprisoned criminals have ASPD
21
