Psychological explanations Forensic psychology

Draw the nervous system

The major sub-divisions of the human nervous system

Spiral question: biopsychology Martha was telling her friend Sanya about her recent frightening experience. ’I was walking home by myself in the dark. Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me and I realised that someone was getting closer to me. I saw a bus at the bus stop and decided to run. I don’t think I have ever moved with such speed. I leapt on the bus – shaking, sweating and my heart was beating so fast I nearly collapsed.’ Outline the role of the central nervous system and autonomic nervous system in behaviour. Refer to Martha’s frightening experience in your answer. (Total 4 marks)

Spiral answer: biopsychology The CNS includes the brain which controls higher mental functions such as decision making, and spinal cord which has a key role in transmitting information to and from the brain as well as controlling reflex behaviours. In Martha’s case her CNS (brain) helped her with decision making (…I decided to run). Her temporal lobe would have been activated when Martha processed auditory information (... I heard footsteps behind me...) and her occipital lobe would have been activated when processing visual information (I saw a bus...). The ANS controls life-maintaining processes such as heart rate as well as transmitting information to and from internal organs. In Martha’s case the sympathetic division of her ANS was activated as seen by Martha commenting on her increased heart rate (...my heart was beating so fast...).

Psychological explanations of offending behaviour: Objectives Psychological explanations of offending behaviour: Eysenck’s theory of the criminal personality; cognitive explanations; level of moral reasoning and cognitive distortions, including hostile attribution bias and minimalisation Differential association theory; psychodynamic explanations.

Task Define the following personality traits: Extrovert Neuroticism An extravert is sociable, impulsive, expressive and risk taking. At the other end of the continuum, introverts act in the opposite way being happy in their own company and more cautious. Neuroticism nervousness, anxiety and obsessiveness. The opposite end of the spectrum is described, as 'stable' and they would have a calm demeanour and a more carefree attitude. Psychoticism be insensitive, unemotional and lack a conscience. Personality can be measured A person’s level of extraversion (E) and neuroticism (N) can be measured along a scale using the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI).

Is there a Criminal Personality type? Aim: to critically explore Eysenck’s theory of the criminal personality Take the Eysenck personality test http://similarminds.com/eysenck.html

How did you score?

Eysenck theory of personality Eysenck originally argued that the great variation between people’s personalities could be reduced to just two dimensions (E and N), which related to the underlying functioning of the individual’s nervous system. Innate, based on the NS we inherit Extravert: People with High E scores are sociable, active, lively and sensation seeking. E is determined by the overall level of arousal in the person’s CNS and ANS. High E-scorers have an underactive NS (low level of arousal) and therefore need more stimulation, excitement and engagement Neurotic: high level of reactivity in the SNS (respond quickly to threat. Behave in an anxious, nervous, jumpy way. Behaviour is unpredictable Psychotic: high levels of testosterone. Cold, unemotional, highly aggressive According to Eysenck, E, N and P are determined largely by genetics. Each trait is normally distributed in the population. That is, most people have moderate E, N and P scores. Extrem scores are rarer and the more extreme a score, the rarer it is.

How PEN links to criminal behaviour Criminal behaviour is concerned with immediate gratification (impatient, antisocial) personality is linked to criminal behaviour via socialization processes. Eysenck viewed criminal behaviour as developmentally immature in that it is selfish and concerned with immediate gratification. The process of socialisation is one in which children are taught to become more able to delay gratification and more socially oriented. Accomplished primarily through conditioning. When children act in immature ways they are punished. Consequently, they come to associate anxiety with antisocial behaviour. Eysenck believed that people with high E and N scores had nervous systems that made them difficult to condition. As a result, they would not learn easily to respond to antisocial impulses with anxiety. Consequently, they would be more likely to act antisocially in situations where the opportunity presented itself.

Learning check Name the three personality traits proposed by Eysenck. An individual who displays behaviours such as anxiety and nervousness would be characterised as which type of personality trait? What is the biological basis for extraversion? Explain how Eysenck's theory relates to the nature-nurture debate. Explain the different reasons why individuals with different personality traits may commit a crime. What is a limitation of this explanation? Psychoticism, Extroversion, Neuroticism Neuroticim Predisposition to inherit certain traits – make it more likely for individual to inherit certain personality. Ext seek excitement (low activity in brain) In the right environment – predisposition P: lack consciouns E:sensation seekers and thrill N: high emotions when they are emotionally charged.

Outline Eysenck’s theory of the criminal personality (6 marks) Are you ready…. Outline Eysenck’s theory of the criminal personality (6 marks)

Hans Eysenck (1947): The Eysenck Personality Inventory. I developed the Eysenck Personality Inventory, a form of psychological test which locates respondents along the E and N dimensions to determine their personality type. I believed that personality has a biological basis . Extraverts, for example, have an underactive nervous system which means that they constantly seek enjoyment through risk-taking behaviours. Hard to determine relationship Responses vary depending on the mood of the individual (validity/reliability questionable) Are we born criminal – legal system – person is in charge of own behaviour – calls in to question whether they are capable of the crime they commit Sample – small – specific personality types more dominant What are two issues with this theory?

Why is this a limitation for Eysenck’s theory of criminal personality? (Digman,1990) The five-factor model of personality is a hierarchical organisation of personality traits in terms of five basic dimensions: Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness to Experience. Why is this a limitation for Eysenck’s theory of criminal personality? Many different types of criminals may exist because E and N are not the only factors that contribute

Additional evaluation points? Eysenck’s theory in the historical context as anti-liberal; relevance to eugenic ideal Basis for the model is in the EPI. Is it reliable? Valid? Can we infer cause and effect? I & D: determinism and the implications of Eysenck’s emphasis on heritability and inevitability; biologically reductionist and the need to consider wider influences, eg society

Farrington et al (1982) Farrington et al (1982) reviewed 16 studies of the relationship between E, N and P measures with criminal convictions. They found that in the majority of cases offenders scored higher on P and N but not on E. Hollin (1989) offenders generally show higher P and N scores but not necessarily higher E scores. It is not clear why the relationship between E and offending is so inconsistent. One possibility is that E scales actually measure two things, sociability and impulsiveness and that criminality is associated with the latter but not the former

Complete the evaluation section of the essay Are you ready…. Complete the evaluation section of the essay

Natural experiment: advantages - control all variables see the effect the IV has on the DV Disadvantages – How high they scored on measure of extr and neuro Quantitative – adv - disadv

Plenary Charles Manson: can you spot the E,N,P qualities from this clip? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9QXY80OxS0

Kohlberg’s theory

Heinz dilemma http://www.simplypsychology.org/kohlberg.html Note: The names of some of the stages in the clip are slightly different to the ones in the pack – do not worry about this, your understanding of the differences between the stages is more important.

Task Read p20 in the pack, then answer the question below:   According to Kohlberg, which level of moral reasoning is more likely to lead to offending behaviour? Explain the reason for your answer and refer to evidence. (4 marks)

Research methods Ed and Najeeb are researching the effects of individual tutorials on student wellbeing. Ed wants to carry out a laboratory experiment and collect quantitative data, whereas Najeeb feels they should use interviews to collect qualitative data. Evaluate the use of quantitative and qualitative data when conducting research into psychological issues. You must make reference to the context in your answer. (12)