individualistic theories - freud

Question 1

the ID

Answer 1

• selfish
• animalistic urges
• unconscious
• primitive
• “the devil”
• pleasure principle = the idea that all of your need should be met immediately

Question 2

the EGO

Answer 2

• rational
• sensible
• control
• practical
• realistic
• reality principle
• reduces conflict between the ID and SUPEREGO

Question 3

the SUPEREGO

Answer 3

• conscience
• “an angel”
• morality principle
• ego ideal = what you believe is right
• represents moral standards
• responsible for guilt

Question 4

criminal behaviour and the parts of the unconscious mind

Answer 4

• a healthy personality needs a balance of the ID, EGO, and SUPEREGO
• personality can become dominated by one aspect - leads to criminal behaviour
  ID DOMINATED
• person will act impulsively
• takes what they want
• leads to criminal behaviour
  EGO DOMINATED
• struggle to accept change
• fixed lifestyle
  SUPER EGO DOMINATED
• moralistic
• judgemental when perfection isnt achieved

Question 5

psychodynamic theory and criminal behaviour

Answer 5

• freud believed that we can understand human behaviour by examining past childhood traumatic experiences and the role of the unconscious mind
• criminal behaviour results from unresolved conflicts between the ID, EGO, and SUPEREGO
• delinquent/criminal behaviour can be traced to faulty relationships in the family during the first years of life
• these faulty relationships results in inadequate ego and superego development - make it impossible for the child to control later delinquent impulse

Question 6

freud’s research

Answer 6

• children need to progress from being ID DOMINATED - need a stable home environment to do this
• research has supported the fact that most criminals come from unstable homes

Question 7

STRENGTHS of freud’s theory

Answer 7

• freud’s research has supported his theory that good early childhood experiences and a stable home environment lead to less chance of criminal behaviour
• his research and theory has influenced policies to treat crime - PSYCHOANALYSIS

Question 8

WEAKNESSES of freud’s theory

Answer 8

• he experimented on people and brought up possible trauma - unethical to dig around in private experiences/past traumas
• his research is unscientific - difficult to prove if there is an unconscious mind
• started relationships with clients - unprofessional

Question 9

freud and criminality

Answer 9

• freud believed anti-social behaviour is caused by abnormal relationships with parents during early socialisation
• criminality is linked to guilt
• children need to progress from the ID and they need healthy relationships with their parents and a stable home environment
• criminals are children who dont make the transition from being ID DOMINATED and have unstable homes