Psychology · Year 13

Active learning ideas

Psychological Explanations of Offending

Psychological explanations of offending move the focus to personality, cognition, and social learning. Students evaluate Eysenck's theory of the criminal personality (Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism), cognitive distortions like hostile attribution bias, and Sutherland's differential association theory. They also look at psychodynamic views, such as the 'inadequate superego.'

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• AQA A-level Psychology 7182 - 4.3.8.3
• AQA A-level Psychology 7182 - 4.3.8

• 30–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Simulation Game
• 45 min · Small Groups

Simulation Game: The Differential Association Map

Students create a 'social map' for a fictional character, showing their family, friends, and media influences. They must use Sutherland's principles to predict whether the character will turn to crime based on the 'pro-criminal' vs 'anti-criminal' attitudes they are exposed to.

How does Eysenck measure and explain the criminal personality?

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 02

• Think-Pair-Share
• 30 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Cognitive Distortions in Action

Provide students with short scenarios of social conflict. Individually, they identify 'hostile attribution bias' or 'minimalisation' in the characters' thoughts; in pairs, they discuss how to 're-train' these thoughts, then share their ideas with the class.

What is hostile attribution bias and how does it lead to aggression?

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Role Play
• 35 min · Pairs

Role Play: Eysenck's Personality Interview

In pairs, one student acts as a researcher and the other as a 'suspect.' The researcher must use Eysenck's personality dimensions (E, N, and P) to interview the suspect and determine if they fit the 'criminal personality' profile, justifying their conclusion with theory.

How does differential association theory explain white-collar crime?

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• Differential association theory is just 'peer pressure.'

  It is more complex than just pressure; it's about the mathematical balance of attitudes and the specific techniques learned from others. Collaborative mapping helps students see that it's the 'ratio' of influences that matters, not just one bad friend.

• Psychodynamic explanations are the most scientific way to explain crime.

  Psychodynamic theories, like the 'weak superego,' are often criticised for being unfalsifiable (impossible to prove wrong). Peer-led evaluations help students contrast these 'hidden' motives with the more measurable cognitive and social learning theories.

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Methods used in this brief

• Simulation Game
• Think-Pair-Share
• Role Play