Which researcher developed a personality theory related to crime?

• A. Eysenck
• B. Bandura
• C. Jacobs
• D. XYY

Answer: (A)

Eysenck's work connects personality traits directly to criminal behavior. He proposed that a criminal personality emerges from a specific pattern of traits across three dimensions: Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism. He argued these traits are partly inherited and shaped by how individuals are socialized, so some people are predisposed to criminal acts due to their temperament. To measure this pattern, he developed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, a tool used to assess where someone falls on those dimensions. This makes him the best fit for a question about a personality theory related to crime because the theory centers on stable personality traits that influence offending, rather than focusing solely on learning processes or biological anomalies.

Bandura, by contrast, is known for social learning theory, which emphasizes learning from others and imitation rather than a fixed personality profile tied to crime. The XYY idea points to a chromosomal/biological explanation rather than a personality framework. Jacobs is not associated with a widely recognized personality theory of crime.