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Criminal Psychology (Heaven's study (1996) (CRITICISMS of Heaven's…

- - - - 282 adolescent (aged 13-15) participants (146 females and 136 males) form catholic schools in Australia
    - - 1.
        
        TIME ONE: all participants given 3 self-report questionnaires to complete
      - 2.
        
        Answers checked for internal reliability (psychoticism not good)
      - 3.
        
        Two years later: TIME TWO: 80% of participants returned (20% used 'right to withdraw'). All participants data confidential. Remaining participants redid the 3 questionnaires
      - In the box
        
        Eysenck's extraversion and psychoticism questionnaire
        
        10 item questionnaire measuring self-esteem.
        
        Delinquency meawsue using four-point scale ('Never'= 1 to 'Often'= 4) on interpersonal violence and vandalism
    - - A longitudinal study measuring psychoticism, extraversion and self-esteem at the start and self-reported delinquency two years later
  - - - males more likely to take part in delinquency at both Time 1 and Time 2
    - - positive correlation between psychoticism and delinquency at Time 1 and Time 2
  - - - Clear link between psychoticism and delinquency rates support Eysenck's theory
    - - Heaven did not discount the effect of other factors in explaining the difference in delinquency rates e.g. social environment- peer pressure, parental discipline or other personality factors
  - - - the withdrawal of 20% of participants could bias results
        
        Explanation
        
        the students who withdrew might have represented a particular group e.g. students who were more heavily involved in delinquency or students with extremely low self-esteem
        
        implications
        
        results cannot be generalised as might not be truly representative of all people
    - - Problems linked to using self-report data
        
        Explanation
        
        SELF-REPORT RELIES ON HONESTY of participants who might lie due to social desirability- they might pretend to have done less delinquent behaviours and have a higher self-esteem. SELF-REPORT RELIES ON INSIGHT of participants who might not be aware enough of their personality to answer the questions accurately
        
        implications
        
        the results could be invalid as not actually measuring the real traits/ behaviours
    - - Results also affected by age bias
        
        Explanation
        
        children in the study were on average 14 years old- this is later than when most delinquency begins e.g. interpersonal violence is present in children much younger than 14
        
        implications
        
        Hard to establish the true cause of delinquency as it could already have begun
    - - Lack of construct Validity due to using closed questions
        
        Explanation
        
        Questions used simple rating scales (e.g. the four-point delinquency questions) this reduces very complicated concepts such as delinquency and self-esteem into over simplified scores
        
        implications
        
        the results could be invalid as not measuring concepts in a meaningful way
    - - sample was culturally biased
        
        Explanation
        
        Only used Roman Catholic children- religion may have played a significant role, only used fee-paying school children- does not represent the wider perhaps less well-off community, study took place in Australia
        
        implications
        
        Results cannot be generalised to the wider population
- - - - aggressive, selfish
      - high impluse control
        
        gentle generous
    - - outgoing, sociable, confident
      - introverted
        
        inward looking, shy, insecure
    - - anxious, angry
      - stable
        
        clam relaxed
    - - psychoticism
        
        characteristics of this trait seem to be directly related to crime (e.g. aggression- violence,selfishness-theft/ fraud/ rape etc
      - Extraversion
        
        this trait leads to individuals seeking stimulation from the environment-some of these thrills might be found in criminal activities
      - Neuroticism
        
        many neurotics get stuck in negative behaviours to reduce their anxiety. Anxiety also seems to slow individuals learning from punishments leading them to continue their criminality
  - - - Pychoticism
        
        Biological cause:
        
        Excess dopaminergic neurons lead to overproduction of dopamine in the nervous system. increased levels of dopamine mean less inhibition of impulses during synaptic transmission
        
        Effect on criminality:
        
        increased levels of dopamine could lead to hyperactivity and attention issues-these could negativity effect education and increase the chances of turning to crime
      - Exteraversion
        
        Biological cause:
        
        under-arousal of the central nervous system (CNS) due to the restriction of signals being received in the brain from the body via the reticular activation system (RAS)
        
        increased strength of the dopamine reward system is also a feature of extroversion
        
        Effect on criminality:
        
        due to this under-arousal, extroverts might seek out activities that are more stimulating such as risky or lawless behaviour
        
        more positive experience of reinforcement (e.g sex/money) so more likely to be illegally acquired
      - Neuroticism
        
        Biological cause:
        
        the automatic nervous system (ANS)- activated during emotional experiences (e.g. fear) regulates the limbic system which controls responses such as aggression. In neurotics the ANS is over-aroused
        
        Effect on criminality:
        
        over arousal of the ANS can lead to more violent outbursts- this often corresponds to criminality
  - - - critics argue that the theory is too deterministic
    - - some argue that psychoticism is just a description of criminal behaviour
    - - Eysenck does not place enough emphasis on nature
    - - crimes are extremely varied so unlikely that criminals actually do share a criminal personality
    - - Eysenck's theory ignores individual differences by trying to place people into catergories
- - - - Explanation of WHY this works
        
        Offenders should not want to experience the punishment again so should avoid any future criminal behaviour. Others can see prison sentences being announced which acts as vicarious punishment- individuals learn not to imitate the criminal acts- prison is a deterrent
      - Details of WHAT happens
        
        Freedom, rights and privileges were taken away from offenders. Offenders forced to live in very basic conditions which are not pleasant
    - - Explanation of WHY this works
        
        Money/ stolen goods are often the reinforcement for crime- losing money is a punishment and should deter people from criminal acts. Knowing the punishment that will occur will act as a deterrent for others
      - Details of WHAT happens
        
        usually for minor crimes (e.g. traffic offences, damage to property) this is where offenders have to pay money to the community or to the victim
    - - Details of WHAT happens
        
        This was offenders have to do some kind of unpaid work for the local community, often publically. Often used to punish anti-social behaviour
      - Explanation of WHY this works
        
        The public nature of this makes it embarrassing for the offender which should reduce repeat offending. This is a very visible crime and can act as a strong deterrent for others who might have imitated the crime
  - - - Details of WHAT happens
        
        Often used for acquisitive and minor violent offences- this is where the offender and victim meet to help the offender understand the psychological harm they have caused
      - Explanation of WHY this works
        
        this helps offenders take responsibility for their actions and bring them back into the community. It also encourages future pro-social behaviours such as empathy
    - - Details of WHAT happens
        
        Used for a range of crimes. Often ex-offenders will be used to train offenders in how they can behave in a more pro-social way (e.g. maintaining eye contact, polite greetings, using empathy, managing anger etc.)
      - Explanation of WHY this works
        
        This helps to CONDITION offenders into more pro-social behaviour by rewarding positive behaviour demonstrated. Can be effective as they can identify with the role model