CRIMINOLOGY KNOWLEDGE ORGANISER: UNIT 2
INDIVIDUALISTIC THEORIES OF CRIMINALITY
Describe individualistic theories of
criminality (AC2.1)
Learning theory – social learning theory
(Bandura)
• 1963 Bobo doll experiment.
• Bandura found that children’s positive and
negative actions reflected those that they
observed from adults.
• Observations most frequent through family,
friends and pop culture.
Psychodynamic theory – theory of
personality (Freud)
• The psyche is made up of:
• id – primitive, want of gratification
• ego – looks for logic and rationality
• superego – the ‘conscience’.
• Human beings need to develop their psyche
from id-centred to develop a dominant ego.
• Freud found that a failure to do so would lead to
criminality.
Psychological theory – personality theory
(Eysenck)
• A self-reported questionnaire based on
personality types.
• Developed a scale based on extraversion/
introversion and neuroticism/stability.
• Later added psychoticism.
Evaluate the effectiveness of criminological
theories to explain causes of criminality (AC3.2)
Strengths
• The Bobo doll test
consistently showed children
copying adult’s actions.
• Bandura’s controls were
varied, including genders of
the subjects and the actions
performed.
Strengths
• The limbic (brain) system is
reflective of the psyche; the
pre-frontal cortex controls
rational decision-making,
similar to the ego.
• Research has found links
between adverse childhood
experiences and criminality.
Strengths
• DeYoung affirmed the
findings by linking the
personality traits to the
release of hormones.
• If true, the tests would
provide a course for early
intervention.
Weaknesses
• Not safeguarding the children
from psychological harm was
ethically wrong.
• Studies by Cumberbatch
found that children are less
likely to copy adult strangers
compared to parents.
Weaknesses
• Discredited by psychologists
as there is no objectivity to
the study; subjectivity would
likely lead to varying results.
• Freud would psychoanalyse
his patients who he had built
relations with, rather than
studying strangers.
Weaknesses
• Revelations in 2019 of
fabricated data has led to
scrutiny and critique of the
questionnaires.
• The questionnaires were
designed in a way whereby
different answers could be
given due to general health or
the time of day.
Assess the use of criminological
theories in informing policy
development (AC4.1)
Psychoanalysis
• Originated by Sigmund Freud.
• Encourages the patient to talk through their
thoughts, with the aim to reveal repressed
thoughts and trauma.
• This can raise ethical implications due to the power
that the psychoanalyst has over the patient.
Behaviour modification
• UK prisons have token economy systems that are
known as ‘incentive policies’.
• Good behaviour is rewarded with more visits from
family and friends, or a TV in the cell.
• Unfavourable behaviour (disrespect, breaking
rules, drug taking) is punished with privileges
being taken away.
Anger management
• Used with offenders who are prone to commit
violent offences – the violence is most likely to be
used on people or objects.
• Counsellors will work with offenders to develop
methods to combat their anger.
• Ainsworth divides anger management sessions
into three areas: cognitive preparation, skills
acquisition and application practice.