Eduqas A Level Psychology
Eduqas A Level Psychology Criminal Behaviours Exam Questions
Free Eduqas A Level Psychology revision for Criminal Behaviours: what you need to know, common mistakes and exam-style questions with answers. Covers characteristics of crime, disinhibition, inherited criminality, amygdala, Eysenck, psychopathy, differential association, anger management and restorative justice.
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About Eduqas A Level Psychology Criminal Behaviours
Criminal behaviours is one of six behaviours in Component 3, of which you study three. You need the characteristics of criminal behaviour, at least two biological, individual differences and social psychological explanations, and at least two methods of modifying it. The specification lists the disinhibition hypothesis, inherited criminality and the amygdala; Eysenck's criminal personality, intelligence and psychopathy; differential association, gender socialisation and normalisation; and anger management and restorative justice. Raine et al. (1997) from Component 1 links well here. Examiners want accurate description with sustained evaluation.
What you need to know
- Characteristics Criminal behaviour is any act that breaks the law of a society. Definitions vary across cultures and over time, and official statistics underestimate crime because much is unreported.
- Biological explanations Disinhibition hypothesis: alcohol and some drugs reduce the control of the prefrontal cortex, so people act on impulses. Inherited criminality: Mednick, Gabrielli and Hutchings (1984) studied 14,427 Danish adoptees; 20% of sons with a convicted biological parent had convictions, against 13.5% where neither parent had. The amygdala is linked to fear and aggression (see Raine et al., 1997).
- Individual differences Eysenck's criminal personality is high in extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism, linked to a nervous system that needs stimulation and conditions poorly. Lower measured intelligence is associated with offending. Psychopathy (shallow emotion, lack of remorse, manipulation) is measured with Hare's checklist.
- Social psychological explanations Differential association theory (Sutherland) states criminal attitudes and techniques are learned through interaction with others. Gender socialisation may explain why men commit more recorded crime. Normalisation theory suggests repeated exposure makes deviant acts seem ordinary and acceptable.
- Methods of modifying Anger management (based on Novaco) uses cognitive preparation, skill acquisition and application practice to help offenders recognise triggers and control responses. Restorative justice brings offender and victim together so the offender takes responsibility and repairs harm.
Common mistakes in Criminal Behaviours
- Saying adoption studies prove crime is genetic. Mednick et al. found a higher conviction rate, but most sons of convicted parents were not convicted, and selective placement may confound results.
- Listing Eysenck's three dimensions incorrectly. Criminals are predicted to score high on extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism.
- Confusing restorative justice with punishment. It aims to repair harm and reintegrate the offender, and it depends on the victim agreeing to take part.
- Treating official crime statistics as accurate. Many crimes go unreported, so explanations based on convictions may be biased.
Try three Criminal Behaviours exam-style questions
1. Outline Eysenck's theory of the criminal personality. (4 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Personality has three dimensions: extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism; criminals are predicted to score high on all three; extraverts have an under-aroused nervous system and seek stimulation; high extraversion and neuroticism make people harder to condition, so they learn rules less well.
2. Describe restorative justice as a method of modifying criminal behaviour. (5 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Brings together the offender and victim, often face to face with a trained mediator; the offender hears the impact of the crime; the offender takes responsibility and may apologise or make amends; the focus is on repairing harm rather than punishment; the victim must agree to take part.
3. Evaluate biological explanations of criminal behaviours. (10 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Adoption studies such as Mednick et al. show higher convictions in sons of convicted biological parents; but most such sons were not convicted, so genes are not deterministic; brain evidence from Raine et al. supports the role of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex; disinhibition explains alcohol-related violence; deterministic and reductionist; ethical concerns about labelling.
Criminal Behaviours FAQs
What does Eduqas A Level Psychology Criminal Behaviours cover?
The characteristics of criminal behaviours, biological, individual differences and social psychological explanations, and methods of modifying the behaviour, all with evaluation.
Which paper is criminal behaviours examined in?
It is examined in Component 3, Psychology: Implications in the Real World, a 2 hour 15 minute written paper worth one third of the A level, where you answer on three of the six behaviours.
Which studies should I learn for criminal behaviours?
Useful evidence includes Mednick, Gabrielli and Hutchings (1984) on adoption, Raine et al. (1997) on the brain, Eysenck's theory and Sutherland's differential association theory.
