Psychodynamic Explanations Flashcards
WARNING
Freud didn’t address the issie of criminal behaviour himself, but other researchers have applied his key concepts
Id
-pleasure principle
-entirely unconscious and present at birth, made up of selfish aggressive instincts that demand immediate gratification.
Ego
-reality principle
-balances conflict demands of the Id and Superego
Superego
-morality principle
-represents ideal self and how should be
How does the superego develop?
-at phgalliuc stage around 3-5
-resolution of Oedipus or electra complex
-through resolution of either complex we identify with our same sex role model and internalise their values to create our superego
Oedipus Complex
-boys develop incestuous feelings toward their mother and a murderous hatred for their rival love (father)
-fearing their father will castrate them,boys repress their feelings from mother and identify with their father taking on his gender role and moral values
Electra Complex
-girls experience penis envy after realising they don’t possess their own, they desire father as penis is primary love object and hate their mother.
-give up desire over time and replace with desire for a baby.
The Inadequate Superego
-superego formed at the end of the phallic stage when the Oedipus or electra complex has been resolved.
-superego works on morality principle and exert its influence by punishing the ego through guilt for wrongdoing and rewards with pride for moral behaviour.
Blackburn- inadequate superego
Argued that if the superego is deficient or inadequate then criminal behaviour is inevitable as the id has free rein and isn’t controlled
The Weak Superego
-there’s an absence of the same sex parent in the phallic stage
-child can’t identify with same sex parent.
-superego isn’t fully formed and the child has a lack of understanding of the difference between right and wrong
-the superego doesn’t punish the child through feelings of guilt
-the child will show criminal or immoral behaviour as the superego doesn’t hold them back.
The Deviant Superego
-child identifies with their same sex parent but the parent is immoral or has immoral standards of behaviours.
-this child internalises morals that aren’t acceptable
-the child doesn’t see criminal behaviours in the same way as others and will not associate guilt and criminal behaviour
The Overharsh Superego
- a healthy superego is firm and has rules of what behaviours are and aren’t acceptable but if these rules are broken, the superego will be forgiving.
- the over-harsh superego, which will not be forgiving, which increases guilt for wrongdoing.
-the child will unconsciously seek opportunities where they will be reprimanded to reduce their sense of guilt leading to criminal behaviour to satisfy the superegos need for punishment.
