F9. Psychological Explanations: Psychodynamic Explanations

Question 1

3 inadequate superegos

Answer 1

• formed at end of phallic stage, ‘internalised sense of right and wrong’ from same-sex parent
• deviant superego: child internalises abnormal moral standards from criminal parents
• weak superego: lack of identification with same-sex parent (due to absence)
• over-harsh superego: craves punishment due to being accustomed to such a feeling due to growing up with over-harsh parents

Question 2

Consequence of dysfunctional superego

Answer 2

• id has control
• selfish, instant gratification, leading to selfish and impulsive characteristics of criminals

Question 3

Inadequate Superego Consequence

Answer 3

• Maternal Deprivation
• Absence of mother-figure during critical attachment period (first 2 years)
• affectionless psychopathy and mental retardation (44 thieves study)

Question 4

• Eval: Bowlby 44 thieves

Answer 4

• Lewis (1959), Maternal Deprivation NOT a reliable predictor of future criminality
• Didn’t struggle to form close relationships in adulthood

Question 5

• Eval: Gender Bias

Answer 5

• FLAWED
• IF TRUE, women should be at ‘greater risk of criminality due to having ‘penis envy’ instead of ‘castration anxiety’ and superego has been internalised less than boys.
• WRONG, countered by stats, which suggests girls display greater appreciation to delayed gratification than boys.

Question 6

• Eval: Lack of Scientific Rigour

Answer 6

• cannot be objectively measured
• Superego (right/wrong) embedded in individuals tripartite personality
• since it can’t be proven wrong, it suggests that the theory is PSEUDOSCIENTIFIC