psychological explanations for offending behaviour
what is Eysnecks theory
he proposed that there are three personality dimensions
extrovert-introvert. neurotic-stable. psychoticism-normality
he said the criminal persoanlity is e,n and p
what is the biological basis of eysnecks theory
he said these personality traits are innate and due to our nervous system. e- have an underactive ns. n-ns is usually triggered by threats p-mostly linked to men meaning high levels of testerone
eval for eysnecks theory
w- the theory is oversimplified as moffi distinguishes between poeple who offend when young and people who offend as a lifetime. She found that personality traits are poor predictions. Reductionism
w- criminality may be innate due to the nervous sytem you inherit which leads to legal implications
what are cognitive explanations
Kohlberg suggested that moral reasoning is in stages and some individuals did not pass a certain level
what were the three levels of moral development
1-pre-convential morality
2- convential morality
3-post convential morality
kohlbergs study
he tested a group of violent youths using the Heinz dilemma. he found that they had a lower level of moral reasoning compared to a control group. Also hollin suggested that criminals are likely to have only reached the pre-convential level.
eval for moral reasoning
s- hollin and palmer asses level of moral reasoning on offenders compered to non offenders. they were aged between 13-22. Male offenders showed poor moral of reasoning out of 10/11 questions.
w- it could depend on the crime as thoornton found that those who had committed a fininacially rewarding crime are likely to be in pre-convential level