Freuds theory

Question 1

What is Freuds theory about?

Answer 1

how traumatic experiences in early childhood can determine our future behaviour and personality.

Question 2

What is the ID?

Answer 2

The instinctive and animal part of the mind containing urges and drives (i want).

Question 3

What is the Superego?

Answer 3

contains conscience and morals which you learn through early socialisation (i should)

Question 4

What is the ego?

Answer 4

this balances the ID and the superego

Question 5

what is a weakly developed superego?

Answer 5

where someone feels less guilt about their actions.

Question 6

what is a too harsh and unforgiving superego?

Answer 6

this creates guilt in the person who craves punishment as a release.

Question 7

what is a deviant superego?

Answer 7

this is where the child is successfully developed but into a deviant moral code.

Question 8

What are the strengths of this theory?

Answer 8

• makes an important link to early childhood experiences in understanding criminal behaviour.
• strays away from just ‘nature’ and shows an understanding of how ‘nurture’ can cause criminality.

Question 9

What are the weaknesses of this theory?

Answer 9

• critics doubt the existence of an ‘unconscious mind’.
• it is invalid due to no empirical evidence and it is unscientific.