LAA, LAB, LAC
Unit 4 Criminal and forensic psychology
Eysenck theory of criminality
Paragraph 1
Everyone has different interests and thinks different about different certain situations. It is
individual differences, specific to each person, that can explain the differences between
someone engaging in crime or not. Individuals are separated from other to their personality
and moral. (Barkham et al., 2017). People who have high extraversion, neuroticism and
psychoticism will run a higher risk of offending, principally because it is difficult for them to
control immature impulses. It is claimed that 67% of the variance for traits is due to genetic
factors. (Quizlet., 2024).
Paragraph 2
Hans Eysenck develop a theory of criminality based on his theory of personality. He argues
that criminality is a result of a particular personality type. He believed that personally was
influenced by biology such as hormone levels and the environment including behaviour learn
through conditioning. He believed that each different personality type could be linked to a
different biological cause. Eysenck devised the Eysenck personality questionnaire to measure
people’s personality traits, ranking them on an E and an N scale. For people with a high E
score are very extraverted, whereas people with a low E score are very introverted. Eysenck
found that most people have personalities somewhere around the middle on both scales. By
contrast, the criminal personality scores high on both E and N. In other words criminals tend
to be strongly extraverted and neurotic. Eysenck explains his findings by drawing on two
ideas, conditioning and genetic inheritance. Eysenck argues that we learn through
conditioning, but some individuals inherit a nervous system that causes them to develop a
criminal personality. (Webb, R., 2019).
Paragraph 3
Extroversion is characterised by outgoing, energetic interactions and behaviour. Extroversion
of people who rain from high levels to lower levels of extraversion and Eysenck Believe that
extra version is due to low level of arousal with the thinking part of the brain. As a result,
they try to find arousal from their cortex by engaging in activities that would excite the part
of the brain. Extroversion has a nervous system that needs a high level of stimulation from
the environment, so they are constantly seeking excitement. This leads to impulsive, rule
,breaking behaviour this is likely to lead to punishment. (Webb, R., 2019). Neuroticism
includes a lack of persons level of emotional stability. Neuroticism is when a person lacks
emotional stability and refers to how well they are at managing their emotions and whether
they become easily emotional. Neuroticism’s are harder to condition into the following
societies rules because their high anxiety levels prevent them learning from punishment from
their mistakes. (Webb, R., 2019). Psychistsim is often used in mental Health to relate to
someone with a specific mental health issue. Psychoticism is where people are more likely to
engage in criminology, they tend to be solitary misfits who are cruel, insensitive, and lack
empathy. People with sight can overlap with serious psychiatric bonuses such as
schizophrenia. (Webb, R., 2019). Introversion is where people are quiet and reliable and
reserved and more serious. Prevention is also when someone enjoys being alone and being in
a small group. You might find big events are being around a lot of people tiring. People who
are introvert tend to focus on the inner thoughts and feelings rather than seeking external
stimulation. (Barkham et al., 2017)
Paragraph 4
Charles Bronson and psychoticism
Charles Bronson is mostly known for being the most famous prisoner in Britain because of
his violent acts in prison and out of prison. Psychoticism includes aggressiveness, hostility
and a lack of empathy. Those that have high levels of psychoticism act on impulsiveness.
Having psychoticism doesn’t always mean someone will engage in the same behaviour as
Charles Bronson. (Barkham et al., 2017)
Ted Bundy and extroversion
Ted Bundy was well known mainly in America for being an infamous serial killer he was
mainly recognised for his charms and manipulations. Extroverted individuals are mainly
sociable and outgoing. Bundy its charm and outgoing personality to attract and trick his
victims who mainly women. (Barkham et al., 2017)
Aileen Wuornos and neuroticism
Alieen Wuornos was well known for being female serial killer recognised for her violent acts.
She showed high levels of neuroticism which involved emotional instability and mood
swings. Her criminal behaviour indicated a connection between her emotional instability and
neurotic traits. (Barkham et al., 2017)
Paragraph 5
Eysenck theory suggests that his personality traits like extroversion, intervention, neuroticism
and psychosim could impact a person likelihood of engaging in criminal behaviour. In
Eysenck research these traits were highlighted in 1952, 1967 and 1982. For example, if
someone should hide levels of neuroticism might show some criminal behaviour and acts as a
way to cope with their emotions. Individuals with high levels of psycholism who
characterised by anger and lack of empathy may be more prone to violent crimes and most
likely become a criminal. Whiles Eysenck shows insight into the links between personality
traits and criminal behaviour it is important to acknowledge that banality traits cannot fully
explain criminal activities. Social and environmental and behaviour factors also significantly
influence a person’s towards criminal acts. Personality traits can often give insight and help
people to understand criminal behaviour considering factors beyond personality alone.
(Barkham et al., 2017)
Kohlberg theory of moral development
, Paragraph 6
Moral development is a theory of how we develop our moral thinking. As such it is
personality relevant to understanding criminals thinking. This is a theory of how we develop
our moral thinking. As such it is potentially relevant to understanding criminals' thinking.
Kohlberg argues that our ideas of right and wrong develop through a series of levels and
stages from childhood to adulthood. At the 'pre-conventional' or pre-moral level, young
children define right and wrong simply in terms of what brings punishment or rewards,
whereas by adulthood, our ideas of right and wrong involve an understanding of underlying
moral principles and values. This suggests that criminals' moral development is stuck at a less
mature level than everyone else's. They are likely to think solely in terms of whether their
actions will lead to a reward or punishment, rather than how it might affect others. This
makes them more likely to offend. (Webb, R., 2019).
Paragraph 7
Kohlberg 1984 argues that our ideas of right and wrong develop through a series of levels and
stages from childhood to adult hood. He believed that as people develop cognitive thinking
skills all individuals pass through vicarious stages of moral development. At the ‘pre-
conventional’ level young children define right and wrong simply in terms of what brings
punishment or awards whereas by adulthood our idea of right and wrong involves an
understanding of underlining moral principle and values. The stages of moral development
are the preconventional morality, conventional morality and post-conventional morality. This
suggests that criminals model development is stuck up for less mature level than everyone
else. They are likely to think solely in terms of whether their actions will lead to a reward or
punishment rather than how it might affect others. This makes them more likely to offend.
(Barkham et al., 2017)
Paragraph 8
The article ’Trivedi-Bateman 2020’ discuss that there is a significant link between moral
emotions and offending behaviour and young people. Search has proved that young people
are more likely to carry out violent acts if they have weak empathy shame and guilt. In this
research it was previously thought that other personal factors such as a lack of self-control or
social disadvantages or extreme factors like the opportunity to commit crime were at the root
of why crime occurs. Having poor morals doesn't mean that you people inherit bad behaviour
morality is learn in childhood. The moral development program should be able to teach
children to reduce the likelihood of them growing up to believe that criminal behaviour could
be seen as morally acceptable. Moral emotions are carried out in in-depth interviews with 50
young and prolic violent offenders looking at the roles of moral emotions in decision to
commit crimes. During this interview all 50 of the young offenders were asked about the
most recent act of violence. During these interviews the findings have provided evidence that
empathy shame and guilt were lacking. (Barkham et al., 2017)
Paragraph 9
Kohlberg 1984 that individuals would typically progress through the stages chronologically
the stages of moral development consist of level one ‘preconventional morality’ during the
first stage of this level obedience and punishment behaviour are driven by avoiding
punishment and in stage to individuals interest of behaviour are driven by self-interest and
reward. Level two ‘conversational morality’ interpersonal behaviour is driven by social
Unit 4 Criminal and forensic psychology
Eysenck theory of criminality
Paragraph 1
Everyone has different interests and thinks different about different certain situations. It is
individual differences, specific to each person, that can explain the differences between
someone engaging in crime or not. Individuals are separated from other to their personality
and moral. (Barkham et al., 2017). People who have high extraversion, neuroticism and
psychoticism will run a higher risk of offending, principally because it is difficult for them to
control immature impulses. It is claimed that 67% of the variance for traits is due to genetic
factors. (Quizlet., 2024).
Paragraph 2
Hans Eysenck develop a theory of criminality based on his theory of personality. He argues
that criminality is a result of a particular personality type. He believed that personally was
influenced by biology such as hormone levels and the environment including behaviour learn
through conditioning. He believed that each different personality type could be linked to a
different biological cause. Eysenck devised the Eysenck personality questionnaire to measure
people’s personality traits, ranking them on an E and an N scale. For people with a high E
score are very extraverted, whereas people with a low E score are very introverted. Eysenck
found that most people have personalities somewhere around the middle on both scales. By
contrast, the criminal personality scores high on both E and N. In other words criminals tend
to be strongly extraverted and neurotic. Eysenck explains his findings by drawing on two
ideas, conditioning and genetic inheritance. Eysenck argues that we learn through
conditioning, but some individuals inherit a nervous system that causes them to develop a
criminal personality. (Webb, R., 2019).
Paragraph 3
Extroversion is characterised by outgoing, energetic interactions and behaviour. Extroversion
of people who rain from high levels to lower levels of extraversion and Eysenck Believe that
extra version is due to low level of arousal with the thinking part of the brain. As a result,
they try to find arousal from their cortex by engaging in activities that would excite the part
of the brain. Extroversion has a nervous system that needs a high level of stimulation from
the environment, so they are constantly seeking excitement. This leads to impulsive, rule
,breaking behaviour this is likely to lead to punishment. (Webb, R., 2019). Neuroticism
includes a lack of persons level of emotional stability. Neuroticism is when a person lacks
emotional stability and refers to how well they are at managing their emotions and whether
they become easily emotional. Neuroticism’s are harder to condition into the following
societies rules because their high anxiety levels prevent them learning from punishment from
their mistakes. (Webb, R., 2019). Psychistsim is often used in mental Health to relate to
someone with a specific mental health issue. Psychoticism is where people are more likely to
engage in criminology, they tend to be solitary misfits who are cruel, insensitive, and lack
empathy. People with sight can overlap with serious psychiatric bonuses such as
schizophrenia. (Webb, R., 2019). Introversion is where people are quiet and reliable and
reserved and more serious. Prevention is also when someone enjoys being alone and being in
a small group. You might find big events are being around a lot of people tiring. People who
are introvert tend to focus on the inner thoughts and feelings rather than seeking external
stimulation. (Barkham et al., 2017)
Paragraph 4
Charles Bronson and psychoticism
Charles Bronson is mostly known for being the most famous prisoner in Britain because of
his violent acts in prison and out of prison. Psychoticism includes aggressiveness, hostility
and a lack of empathy. Those that have high levels of psychoticism act on impulsiveness.
Having psychoticism doesn’t always mean someone will engage in the same behaviour as
Charles Bronson. (Barkham et al., 2017)
Ted Bundy and extroversion
Ted Bundy was well known mainly in America for being an infamous serial killer he was
mainly recognised for his charms and manipulations. Extroverted individuals are mainly
sociable and outgoing. Bundy its charm and outgoing personality to attract and trick his
victims who mainly women. (Barkham et al., 2017)
Aileen Wuornos and neuroticism
Alieen Wuornos was well known for being female serial killer recognised for her violent acts.
She showed high levels of neuroticism which involved emotional instability and mood
swings. Her criminal behaviour indicated a connection between her emotional instability and
neurotic traits. (Barkham et al., 2017)
Paragraph 5
Eysenck theory suggests that his personality traits like extroversion, intervention, neuroticism
and psychosim could impact a person likelihood of engaging in criminal behaviour. In
Eysenck research these traits were highlighted in 1952, 1967 and 1982. For example, if
someone should hide levels of neuroticism might show some criminal behaviour and acts as a
way to cope with their emotions. Individuals with high levels of psycholism who
characterised by anger and lack of empathy may be more prone to violent crimes and most
likely become a criminal. Whiles Eysenck shows insight into the links between personality
traits and criminal behaviour it is important to acknowledge that banality traits cannot fully
explain criminal activities. Social and environmental and behaviour factors also significantly
influence a person’s towards criminal acts. Personality traits can often give insight and help
people to understand criminal behaviour considering factors beyond personality alone.
(Barkham et al., 2017)
Kohlberg theory of moral development
, Paragraph 6
Moral development is a theory of how we develop our moral thinking. As such it is
personality relevant to understanding criminals thinking. This is a theory of how we develop
our moral thinking. As such it is potentially relevant to understanding criminals' thinking.
Kohlberg argues that our ideas of right and wrong develop through a series of levels and
stages from childhood to adulthood. At the 'pre-conventional' or pre-moral level, young
children define right and wrong simply in terms of what brings punishment or rewards,
whereas by adulthood, our ideas of right and wrong involve an understanding of underlying
moral principles and values. This suggests that criminals' moral development is stuck at a less
mature level than everyone else's. They are likely to think solely in terms of whether their
actions will lead to a reward or punishment, rather than how it might affect others. This
makes them more likely to offend. (Webb, R., 2019).
Paragraph 7
Kohlberg 1984 argues that our ideas of right and wrong develop through a series of levels and
stages from childhood to adult hood. He believed that as people develop cognitive thinking
skills all individuals pass through vicarious stages of moral development. At the ‘pre-
conventional’ level young children define right and wrong simply in terms of what brings
punishment or awards whereas by adulthood our idea of right and wrong involves an
understanding of underlining moral principle and values. The stages of moral development
are the preconventional morality, conventional morality and post-conventional morality. This
suggests that criminals model development is stuck up for less mature level than everyone
else. They are likely to think solely in terms of whether their actions will lead to a reward or
punishment rather than how it might affect others. This makes them more likely to offend.
(Barkham et al., 2017)
Paragraph 8
The article ’Trivedi-Bateman 2020’ discuss that there is a significant link between moral
emotions and offending behaviour and young people. Search has proved that young people
are more likely to carry out violent acts if they have weak empathy shame and guilt. In this
research it was previously thought that other personal factors such as a lack of self-control or
social disadvantages or extreme factors like the opportunity to commit crime were at the root
of why crime occurs. Having poor morals doesn't mean that you people inherit bad behaviour
morality is learn in childhood. The moral development program should be able to teach
children to reduce the likelihood of them growing up to believe that criminal behaviour could
be seen as morally acceptable. Moral emotions are carried out in in-depth interviews with 50
young and prolic violent offenders looking at the roles of moral emotions in decision to
commit crimes. During this interview all 50 of the young offenders were asked about the
most recent act of violence. During these interviews the findings have provided evidence that
empathy shame and guilt were lacking. (Barkham et al., 2017)
Paragraph 9
Kohlberg 1984 that individuals would typically progress through the stages chronologically
the stages of moral development consist of level one ‘preconventional morality’ during the
first stage of this level obedience and punishment behaviour are driven by avoiding
punishment and in stage to individuals interest of behaviour are driven by self-interest and
reward. Level two ‘conversational morality’ interpersonal behaviour is driven by social
