Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · Psychology

    Course version: 1PS0 · Version from Sept 2017

    Understand biological explanations of criminality, including personality…

    Full specification wording

    Criminal psychology: 6.1.2 Understand biological explanations of criminality, including personality types (Eysenck, 1964), to include strengths and weaknesses of the theory: a. extraversion b. introversion c. neuroticism d. psychoticism

    Biological explanations suggest criminality has innate roots.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1PS0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 2 of 4
    • 3 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    Biological explanations suggest criminality has innate roots. Eysenck (1964) proposed personality types are biologically determined by the nervous system and linked to crime. Extraversion involves being sensation-seeking, driven by an underactive nervous system requiring stimulation. Introversion is the opposite, needing calm. Neuroticism refers to emotional instability and high anxiety. Psychoticism involves being aggressive, cold, and lacking empathy. Eysenck argued individuals scoring high on extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism are harder to condition and more likely to offend. Strengths include combining biological and psychological factors, but weaknesses include relying on self-report questionnaires which may lack validity.

    What earns the marks

    • Describe extraversion as a biological need for environmental stimulation due to an underactive nervous system.
    • Explain neuroticism as emotional instability stemming from a highly reactive autonomic nervous system.
    • Define psychoticism as a trait characterised by aggression, impulsivity, and a lack of empathy, linked to testosterone levels.
    • Explain that the combination of high extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism makes an individual difficult to socialise and condition against criminal acts.
    • Evaluate Eysenck's theory by noting its strength in integrating biological and psychological concepts, and its weakness in relying on subjective self-report measures.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Confusing psychoticism with psychosis or schizophrenia.

      Put it right: Psychoticism is a personality trait relating to aggression and lack of empathy, not a clinical mental health disorder involving hallucinations.

    • Treating introversion as a cause of criminality.

      Put it right: Introverts are easier to condition and less likely to seek illegal stimulation, making them less prone to criminality according to Eysenck.

    • Failing to link the personality traits to their biological basis.

      Put it right: Explain that these traits are rooted in the functioning of the central and autonomic nervous systems.

    Exam tips

    • Use the acronym PEN (Psychoticism, Extraversion, Neuroticism) to remember the three traits Eysenck linked to criminal behaviour.
    • When evaluating, mention that the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) is a self-report tool, which can lead to socially desirable answers.
    • Clearly distinguish between the biological cause (e.g., underactive nervous system) and the resulting psychological trait (e.g., extraversion).

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Criminal psychology: 6.1.2 Understand biological explanations of criminality, including personality types (Eysenck, 1964), to include strengths and weaknesses of the theory: a. extraversion b. introversion c. neuroticism d. psychoticism lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    According to Eysenck's theory of the criminal personality, which trait is characterised by a lack of empathy, aggression, and being solitary?

    Listen

    Biological explanations suggest criminality has innate roots. Eysenck (1964) proposed personality types are biologically determined by the nervous system and linked to crime. Extraversion involves being sensation-seeking, driven by an underactive nervous system requiring stimulation. Introversion is the opposite, needing calm. Neuroticism refers to emotional instability and high anxiety. Psychoticism involves being aggressive, cold, and lacking empathy. Eysenck argued individuals scoring high on extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism are harder to condition and more likely to offend. Strengths include combining biological and psychological factors, but weaknesses include relying on self-report questionnaires which may lack validity. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Describe extraversion as a biological need for environmental stimulation due to an underactive nervous system. Explain neuroticism as emotional instability stemming from a highly reactive autonomic nervous system. Define psychoticism as a trait characterised by aggression, impulsivity, and a lack of empathy, linked to testosterone levels. Explain that the combination of high extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism makes an individual difficult to socialise and condition against criminal acts. A common slip: Confusing psychoticism with psychosis or schizophrenia. Instead, Psychoticism is a personality trait relating to aggression and lack of empathy, not a clinical mental health disorder involving hallucinations. Exam tip: Use the acronym PEN (Psychoticism, Extraversion, Neuroticism) to remember the three traits Eysenck linked to criminal behaviour.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. The top node reads 'Biological basis: nervous system' and branches to four trait nodes: 'Extraversion: underactive nervous system, sensation-seeking', 'Introversion: needs calm, easier to condition', 'Neuroticism: emotional instability, high anxiety', and 'Psychoticism: aggressive, cold, lacking empathy'. The extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism nodes all lead into a node reading 'High extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism', which leads to 'Harder to condition, more likely to offend', which finally leads to 'Strengths and weaknesses of the theory'. The introversion node does not feed into the combination node.
    Shows how Eysenck's biologically based personality traits combine to make offending more likely, with strengths and weaknesses evaluated.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Extraversion

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Introversion

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Psychoticism

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Extraversion
    Being sensation-seeking, driven by an underactive nervous system requiring stimulation.
    Introversion
    The opposite of extraversion, needing calm.
    Psychoticism
    Being aggressive, cold, and lacking empathy.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. The top node reads 'Biological basis: nervous system' and branches to four trait nodes: 'Extraversion: underactive nervous system, sensation-seeking', 'Introversion: needs calm, easier to condition', 'Neuroticism: emotional instability, high anxiety', and 'Psychoticism: aggressive, cold, lacking empathy'. The extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism nodes all lead into a node reading 'High extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism', which leads to 'Harder to condition, more likely to offend', which finally leads to 'Strengths and weaknesses of the theory'. The introversion node does not feed into the combination node.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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