GCSE Psychology — Criminal Psychology

Led by Banduran Learning Simulacrum

One of the seven topics of OCR GCSE Psychology — why criminal and anti-social behaviour occurs, taught by two voices: the social learning explanation and Eysenck's criminal personality theory, each with its core study.

1. Module 1

   The Social Learning Explanation of Criminality

   Led by Banduran Learning Simulacrum

   The question

   Is criminal behaviour learned the way other behaviour is learned — by watching others? You will first establish what crime is, how it is measured (official statistics and self-report), and why "criminal" is partly a social construct. Then you will study the social learning theory of criminality — identification, observation, imitation, and vicarious and direct reinforcement — and tell the story of the Cooper and Mackie (1986) study on video games and aggression, before criticising the explanation using the nature/nurture debate.

   Outcome

   You can explain the social learning theory of criminality, tell the story of Cooper and Mackie (1986), and criticise the explanation using the nature/nurture debate.

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 1.1 Key Concepts: What Crime Is and How It Is Measured Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 1.2 Social Learning Theory and the Cooper and Mackie Study Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Begin the course → Print certificate of completion
2. Module 2

   Eysenck's Criminal Personality

   Led by Hans Eysenck Simulacrum

   The question

   Is the disposition to offend something you are largely born with — written into the nervous system? You will study Eysenck's three dimensions of personality (extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism) and the criminal profile across them, the arousal levels and brain systems claimed to underlie that profile, and the role of early socialisation. You will tell the story of the Heaven (1996) study, criticise the theory using the issue of individual differences, and contrast it with the social learning explanation.

   Outcome

   You can explain Eysenck's criminal personality theory, tell the story of Heaven (1996), and contrast this dispositional explanation with the social learning account — the synoptic comparison the exam rewards.

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 2.1 The Three Dimensions and the Brain Beneath Them Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 2.2 The Heaven Study and Evaluating the Theory Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion