L9 - Psychodynamic Explanations

Question 1

Id, ego, and superego operate on what principles?

Answer 1

Id: pleasure
Ego: reality
Superego: morality

Question 2

Which component of the personality causes criminal behaviour?

Answer 2

Inadequate superego

Question 3

What are the three types of inadequate superego?

Answer 3

Weak
Overharsh
Deviant

Question 4

How does the superego develop?

Answer 4

Oedipus and Electra complexes
Boys have castration anxiety so fully internalise father’s superego
Girls don’t have CA so don’t fully internalise it

Question 5

Describe a weak superego

Answer 5

If same-sex parent is absent, child can’t identify, don’t fully internalise the superego

Question 6

Describe deviant superego

Answer 6

Child internalises immoral or deviant values, e.g. from an offending parent

Question 7

Describe over-harsh superego

Answer 7

Excessively punishes the person even for small rule breaks so feel very guilty
Offend due to the need for punishment

Question 8

At what stage does the superego form?

Answer 8

Phallic stage (3-6 years)

Question 9

+ related to simplified

Answer 9

Reductionist

Easier to identify cause and treat it

Question 10

• related to same-sex parent

Answer 10

Little evidence that not having a same-sex parent causes offending as they have less of a conscience
Has to be other causes/weak superego isn’t supported or valid

Question 11

• related to forensic awareness?

Answer 11

Overharsh doesn’t make sense as many criminals show high forensic awareness
Don’t want to be caught or punished

Question 12

• related to gender differences

Answer 12

Assumes girls have weaker superego but not supported by crime
Study into children resisting temptation found litter gender differences, girls were slightly more moral