Psychodynamic Explanations

Question 1

What are the three types of inadequate superego?

Answer 1

• The weak superego.
• The deviant superego.
• The over-harsh superego.

Question 2

What are the two psychodynamic explanations of criminality?

Answer 2

• Inadequate superego.

- Maternal deprivation theory.

Question 3

What are the three parts of the personality?

Answer 3

Id, Ego and Superego.

Question 4

Who created the inadequate superego theory?

Answer 4

Freud created the 3 parts of the personality and Blackburn created the theory of the inadequate superego.

Question 5

What is the focus of Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 5

The lack of a mother to attach to during infancy leading to criminal behaviour, specifically affectionless psychopathy.

Question 6

What causes the weak superego?

Answer 6

An absent same sex parent in the phallic stage.

Question 7

Which principle is the Id?

Answer 7

Pleasure principle.

Question 8

What is the weak superego?

Answer 8

Would result in a person with few if any usual inhibitions against antisocial behaviour.

Question 9

How does the 3 parts of the personality relate to crime?

Answer 9

The superego punishes the ego with feelings of guilt for fault, and rewards it with feeling of satisfaction for moral behaviour. In criminals the superego is weak or deficient.

Question 10

What causes a deviant superego?

Answer 10

Caused by the internalisation of an immoral superego from deviant parents.

Question 11

Which principle is the Superego?

Answer 11

Morality principle.

Question 12

What is the deviant superego?

Answer 12

A child might develop a superego in the normal way, but the superego itself has deviant values.

Question 13

What is the strong superego?

Answer 13

The individual may be unconsciously driven to perform criminal acts to satisfy the superego’s desire for punishment.

Question 14

What causes the strong superego?

Answer 14

An excessively harsh superego which cripples the individual with guilt and anxiety.

Question 15

Which principle is the Ego?

Answer 15

Reality principle.

Question 16

Which type of superego struggles to inhibit impulses of antisocial behaviour?

Answer 16

The weak superego.

Question 17

What is the study which provided evidence for the maternal deprivation theory?

Answer 17

The 44 thieves study. (Bowlby, 1944)

Question 18

How did Bowlby view the maternal relationship?

Answer 18

The relationship was seen by Bowlby as unique, superior to any other , and vital to the child’s well-being and development.

Question 19

How does Bowlby say affectionless psychopathy occurs?

Answer 19

Due to not forming a good maternal relationship within the first years.

Question 20

Describe the study of the 44 theives?

Answer 20

Bowlby interviewed 44 juvenile thieves and their families. 14 of the sample showed characteristics of ‘affectionless psychopathy’. Of this 14, 12 has experienced prolonged separation from their mothers during infancy.

Question 21

What is affectionless psychopathy?

Answer 21

Characterised by a lack of guilt, empathy and feeling for others.

Question 22

Why are maternally deprived individuals likely to engage in crime?

Answer 22

They cannot feel guilt or empathy therefore would have no remorse for victims.

Question 23

AO3 - Untestable hypothesis.

Answer 23

Psychodynamic explanations lack falsifiability; these theories are not open to empirical testing. Therefore, the theories about inadequate superego leading to crime contributes very little evidence to our understanding of crime and how to prevent it.

Question 24

AO3 - Lack of evidence.

Answer 24

There is little to no evidence that children raised without a same-sex parent are less law abiding or fail to develop a full conscience. This contradicts the superego argument. Similarly, if children raised by deviant parents go on to commit crime, this could be due to genetics or socialisation.

Question 25

AO3 - Gender bias.

Answer 25

Within Freudian theory there is an idea that girls develop a weaker superego than boys because they do not experience castration anxiety and therefore do not feel pressured to identify with the mother. The implication of this is that more females should be criminals than males, however, prison statistics oppose this as there are many more male inmates than female.

Question 26

AO3 - Correlation no causation.

Answer 26

Lewis (1954) analysed data drawn from interviews with 500 young people and found that maternal deprivation was a poor predictor of future offending. There are countless other reasons for this apparent link such as genetic factors and the influence of others.

Question 27

AO3 - Methodological issues.

Answer 27

The 44 thieves study has been heavily criticised as having researcher bias. Bowlby also failed to draw a distinction between deprivation and privation within his research.