Individualistic theories of criminality: psychodynamic theories

Question 1

What is the ID?

Answer 1

Instinctive ‘animal’ part of mind – selfish, pleasure-seeking

Question 2

What is the superego?

Answer 2

Conscience or moral part of mind – acting against it leads to guilt and anxiety

Question 3

What is the ego?

Answer 3

Referees the urges of id and superego. Tries to satisfy the id’s urges in a socially acceptable way

Question 4

What is a weak superego?

Answer 4

Less guilt feelings and more likely to act on id’s urges

Question 5

What is a harsh superego?

Answer 5

Craves punishment to release guilt feelings

Question 6

What is a deviant superego?

Answer 6

Successful socialisation but into deviant moral code

Question 7

What is the primary caregiver?

Answer 7

The main person who looks after the child

Question 8

What is attachment?

Answer 8

Describes the relationship between child and primary carer

Question 9

What is affectionless psychopathy?

Answer 9

Inability to form meaningful relationships as a result of broken attachment before the age of 5

Question 10

What is socialisation?

Answer 10

Process of learning norms and values

Question 11

What is the key idea of Freud and psychoanalysis?

Answer 11

Our early childhood experiences determine our personality and future behaviour including criminality

Question 12

What is personality relating to Freud and psychoanalysis?

Answer 12

3 conflicting elements of unconscious mind – id, ego and superego

Question 13

How does Freud and psychoanalysis link to crime?

Answer 13

Anti-social behaviour caused by abnormal relationship with parents (neglect or excessively harsh or lax parenting). Conflicts between id, ego, and superego are unresolved, which leads a to weak, over-harsh or deviant superego

Question 14

What is one strength of Freud and psychoanalysis?

Answer 14

Points to importance of socialisation and early family relationships in understanding criminal behaviour

Question 15

What is a second strength of Freud and psychoanalysis?

Answer 15

Some influence on policies for dealing with crime and deviance

Question 16

What is a third strength of Freud and psychoanalysis?

Answer 16

Critics doubt the existence of the unconscious mind

Question 17

What is one limitation of Freud and psychoanalysis?

Answer 17

Unscientific and subjective – relies on accepting claims of a psychoanalyst about the unconscious mind of someone else

Question 18

What is the key idea of Bowlby and maternal deprivation?

Answer 18

There is a link between maternal deprivation and deviant or anti-social behaviour

Question 19

What is attachment relating to Bowlby and maternal deprivation?

Answer 19

A child needs a close, continuous relationship with a primary carer from birth to 5 to develop normally

Question 20

What is seperation relating to Bowlby and maternal deprivation?

Answer 20

If attachment is broken, even for a short time, it can lead to affectionless psychopathy and criminal behaviour

Question 21

What is an example of evidence relating to Bowlby and maternal deprivation?

Answer 21

Study of 44 juvenile thieves referred to child guidance clinic. 39% suffered maternal deprivation before the age of 5 compared with 5% of control group of non-delinquents

Question 22

What is one strength of Bowlby and maternal deprivation?

Answer 22

Backed up with evidence from the 44 thieves study

Question 23

What is a second strength of Bowlby and maternal deprivation?

Answer 23

Shows the importance of parent-child relationships in criminality

Question 24

What is one limitation of Bowlby and maternal deprivation?

Answer 24

Retrospective studies relies on memory

Question 25

What is a second limitation of Bowlby and maternal deprivation?

Answer 25

Doesn’t explain why 61% were not delinquent

Question 26

What is a third limitation of Bowlby and maternal deprivation?

Answer 26

No evidence of affectionless psychopathy in further studies

Question 27

What is a fourth limitation of Bowlby and maternal deprivation?

Answer 27

Overestimates how far early childhood affects later behaviour

Question 28

What is a fifth limitation of Bowlby and maternal deprivation?

Answer 28

Sammons and Putwain: maternal deprivation not linked to criminality