individualistic theories Flashcards
freud - psychoanalysis
freud stated that…
our early childhood experiences determine our future behaviour
freud - psychoanalysis
in his view…
‘the child is the father to the man’
freud - psychoanalysis
where is the id located
in the unconscious, instinctive, ‘animal’ part of the mind
freud - psychoanalysis
what does the id contain?
powerful, selfish, pleasure-seeking needs and drives
freud - psychoanalysis
what is the id governed by?
the ‘pleasure principle’ - the blind desire to satisfy the urges at any cost
freud - psychoanalysis - id
if we acted on these urges whenever we felt them…
they would often lead to antisocial and criminal behaviour
freud - psychoanalysis - superego
what does the superego contain?
our conscience and moral rules
freud - psychoanalysis - superego
where do we learn our moral rules?
through interactions with our parents during early socialisation
freud - psychoanalysis - superego
example of superego
we might be punished for trying to satisfy our urges without regard for others
freud - psychoanalysis - superego
superego - through socialisation…
the child internalises its parents’ ideas of right and wrong , and the superego develops as a sort of ‘nagging parent’
freud - psychoanalysis - superego
if we act - or consider acting…
against the superego, we feel guilt and anxiety
freud - psychoanalysis - the ego
how did freud see our behaviour as the result of?
the struggle between the id and superego
freud - psychoanalysis - the ego
what is the ego’s role?
to try strike a balance between their conflicting demands
freud - psychoanalysis - the ego
what is the ego driven by?
the ‘reality principle’ - learns from experience (that in the real world, have consequences)
freud - psychoanalysis - the ego
example following on from reality principle
a child learns that snatching a biscuit without asking may lead to punishment
freud - psychoanalysis - the ego
the ego seeks to…
control the id’s urges whilst finding a way to balance them
freud - psychoanalysis - the ego
example following on from what the ego seeks to do
- a child learns to say please to obtain what it wants
- it learns that sometimes it may have to repress gratification of the id’s desires
freud - psychoanalysis - the ego
in a well-adjusted person…
the ego acts in a way that satisfies the id’s desired but is also morally acceptable to the superego
freud - psychoanalysis
a weakly developed superego
means the individual will feel less guilt about antisocial behaviour and less inhibition about acting on the id’s selfish or aggressive urges
freud - psychoanalysis
a too harsh and unforgiving superego means…
- creates deep seated guilt feelings
- then craves punishment as a release
- engage in compulsive repeat offending behaviour to be punished
freud - psychoanalysis
a deviant superego is…
- child is successfully socialised, but in a deviant moral code
- son may have perfectly good relationship with his criminal father so he internalised criminal values
- his superego would not inflict guilt feelings for contemplating criminal acts
BOWLBY’S MATERNAL DEPRIVATION THEORY
bowlby argues that there is a link…
between maternal deprivation and deviant/antisocial behaviour
BOWLBY’S MATERNAL DEPRIVATION THEORY
in his view…
the child needs a close, continuous relationship with its primary carer (typically mother) from the age of 5 to develop normally
BOWLBY’S MATERNAL DEPRIVATION THEORY
if the mother-child attachment is broken through separation (even for short time)…
it can leave the child unable to form meaningful emotional relationships with others
BOWLBY’S MATERNAL DEPRIVATION THEORY
this is…
affectionless psychopathy and can lead to criminality
BOWLBY’S MATERNAL DEPRIVATION THEORY
evidence
- study of 44 juvenile thieves
- 39% suffered maternal deprivation before 5
- control group of non-delinquents, only 5%
SUTHERLAND’S DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION (LEARNING)
sutherland argues that…
individuals learn criminal behaviour largely in family and peer groups and is the result of 2 factors
SUTHERLAND’S DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION (LEARNING)
imitation of criminal acts
- individuals can acquire criminal skills and techniques through observing those around them
SUTHERLAND’S DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION (LEARNING)
learned attitudes
- socialisation within the group exposes them to attitudes and values about the law
- learn more unfavourable - more likely to become criminals
SUTHERLAND’S DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION (LEARNING)
example study
- white collar crime
- group attitudes in work place often normalised criminal behaviour
- making it easier to justify
OPERANT LEARNING THEORY - SKINNER
the idea is that…
if a particular behaviour results in reward, it is likely to be repeated (positive reinforcement)
OPERANT LEARNING THEORY - SKINNER
behaviour results in an undesirable outcome…
likely not be repeated (punishment)
OPERANT LEARNING THEORY - SKINNER
behaviourism
- cause of someone’s behaviour lies in the reinforcements and punishments that shape it
OPERANT LEARNING THEORY - SKINNER
differential reinforcement theory
- skinner argued that all behaviour results from reinforcements and punishments
- must explain criminal behaviour too
OPERANT LEARNING THEORY - SKINNER
example - Jefferey’s differential reinforcement theory
- if crime has more rewarding consequences, then an individual is more likely to commit criminal behaviour
- financial rewards, respect
OPERANT LEARNING THEORY - SKINNER
to explain offending…
we need to look at the balance of rewards and punishments for the particular individual
MORAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY (KOHLBERG)
kohlberg argues…
- our ideas of right and wrong develop through a series of levels and stages from childhood to adulthood
MORAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY (KOHLBERG)
pre-conventional or pre-moral level
- young children define right and wrong in terms of what brings punishment or rewards
MORAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY (KOHLBERG)
by adulthood…
- our ideas of right and wrong involve an understanding of underlying moral principles and values
MORAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY (KOHLBERG)
this suggests that…
- criminals’ moral development is stuck at a less mature level
- likely to think in terms of whether their actions lead to reward or punishment, rather than how it may affect others
MORAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY (KOHLBERG)
cognitive behavioural therapy
- cognitive theories that see delinquents’ thought patterns as different have led to a range of treatments for offenders
