Psychodynamic explanation of offending

Question 1

what is the role of the superego and when does it develop ?

Answer 1

• develop in the phallic stage
• known as the morality principle
• feels guilt
• prevents you from doing what is thought to be wrong

Question 2

What did Backburn argue about the superego ?

Answer 2

• Blackburn argued that if the superego is somehow deficient or inadequate then criminal behaviour is inevitable because the id is given free rein and not properly controlled

Question 3

What are the types of inadequate super ego’s ?

Answer 3

• weak superego
• deviant superego
• over-harsh superego

Question 4

weak superego ?

Answer 4

• if sane sex parent is absent during the phallic stage the child cannot internalise a fully-formed superego as there is no opportunity for identification
• so immoral/criminal behaviour is more likely
• id will be in charge

Question 5

deviant superego ?

Answer 5

• if the superego that the child internalises has immoral or deviant values this would lead to offending behaviour
• not able to associate guilt with wrong doings

Question 6

over-harsh superego ?

Answer 6

• an overly harsh superego means that the individual is crippled with guilt and anxiety
• this may unconsciously drive the individual to peform criminal acts to satisfy the superegos need for punishment

Question 7

defence mechanisms ?

Answer 7

• denial
• displacement
• repression

Question 8

how can denial affect offending behaviour ?

Answer 8

• a person who commits a series of murders might refuse to consciously acknowledge that they are taking place or refuses to recognise the severity of their actions

Question 9

how can displacement affect offending behaviour ?

Answer 9

• a young man who is angry with his girlfriend may take their anger out on a substitute object

Question 10

Describe Bowlby’s maternal deprivation hypothesis ?

Answer 10

• the ability to form meaningful relationships was dependant on the child forming a strong and loving bond with their mother or primary caregiver

Question 11

how is the bond between child and mother described ?

Answer 11

• unique and superior to any other

Question 12

what happens if the child does not form an attachment to their mother and what can that lead to in terms of offending ?

Answer 12

• the child will experience irreversible damages
• one of the damages can be affectionless psychopathy
• so individuals may engage in criminal behaviour as they cannot feel guilt or form close relationships

Question 13

what study supports the maternal deprivation hypothesis ?

Answer 13

• 44 thieves study

Question 14

how does the 44 thieves study support the maternal deprivation hypothesis for explaining offending behaviour ?

Answer 14

• because the greater the frequency of separation, the greater the chance of becoming a thief
• when compare to a control group, where not many has a frequent separation

Question 15

according to Freud’s theory, what gender should be more prone to criminal behaviour and why ?

Answer 15

• females
• because girls develop a weaker superego than boys as they have not experienced castration anxiety
• so girls are under less pressure to identify with their mothers so superego is more inadequate

Question 16

AO3 LIMITATION
- Freud believing females should be more prone to criminal behaviour ?

Answer 16

• not fully supported by evidence
• the psychodynamic approach is unfalsifiable

Question 17

AO3 LIMITATION
- psychodynamic approach is unfalsifiable

Answer 17

• many unconscious concepts within Freud’s theory mean that applications to crime are not open to empirical testing
• psychodynamic theories are considered to be pseudoscientific
• and may contribute little to our understanding of crime
• so psychodynamic approach accepts theories without evidence to back it up

Question 18

AO3 LIMITATION
- absent same sex parent may not account for all offending behaviour

Answer 18

• there is little evidence that all children raised without a same sex parent are less law-abiding
• contradicts Blackburn’s weak superego argument
• could be another explanation such as genetics as children who are raised by deviant parents go on to commit crimes