Psychodynamic Explanations- Freud and Bowlby

Question 1

what is the AO1 for Freud’s explanation for criminal behaviour

Answer 1

• The psychodynamic explanation revolves around the idea of an inadequate superego.
• The superego SHOULD form during the phallic stage of development, through resolution of the Oedipus or Electra complex, with identification with the same sex parent and internalising their superego
• If the superego is inadequate then the id has too much power and criminal behaviour is inevitable.
• Three types of inadequate superego have been proposed

Question 2

what are the three types of inadequate superego that have been proposed

Answer 2

• Weak Superego
• Deviant Superego
• Over- Harsh Superego (can leave out)

Question 3

how does a weak superego develop

Answer 3

• If the same sex parent is absent during the phallic stage, resolution of the oedipus or electra complex is not possible, as the child cannot identify with and internalise their same sex parent.
• This creates a very weak superego, making criminal behaviour more likely.

Question 4

how does a deviant superego develop

Answer 4

If the same sex parent that the child identifies with/internalises is immoral/deviant (criminal) themselves, then this will lead to offending behaviour.

Question 5

how does an over-harsh superego develop (can leave out)

Answer 5

Identifying with/internalising a severely harsh parent will create a really intense/overactive superego, which some psychologists believe could drive the individual unconsciously towards criminal behaviour because they seek punishment.

Question 6

what is the AO3 for Freud’s explanation for criminal behaviour

Answer 6

• gender bias
• lack of evidence/ethical implications
• unscientific + unfalsifiable

Question 7

expand on the -ve AO3 point, gender bias (freud)

Answer 7

• Freud believed that because girls do not experience castration anxiety they are under less pressure to identify with their mothers, than boys are with their fathers.
• The result is that women are naturally less moral and more deviant than men, implying they are more likely to become criminal.
• This is directly refuted by official statistics which state that the gender split in the world’s prisons is 93% vs 7%.

Question 8

expand on the -ve AO3 point, lack of evidence/ethical implications (freud)

Answer 8

• It is immensely socially sensitive to suggest that children from single parent families have higher chances of becoming criminal.
• The ethical implications of this theory are far reaching.
• Furthermore, there is ABSOLUTELY no evidence to support it.
• This also applies for children from same sex parents.

Question 9

expand on the -ve AO3 point, unscientific + unfalsifiable (freud)

Answer 9

• Psychology is a science, and as such, the concepts it is built upon need scientific credibility, which psychodynamic theory seriously lacks.
• The idea of the superego is unfalsifiable and immeasurable. It cannot be tested empirically, and for this reason will always be heavily criticised by the majority of psychologists who are seeking scientific worth.

Question 10

what is the AO1 for Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Theory for explaining criminal behaviour

Answer 10

• If an infant is unable to form a continuous attachment with his mother during the critical period then he will be at risk of developing intellectual, behavioural, and emotional difficulties.
• Bowlby identified “AFFECTIONLESS PSYCHOPATHY” as a risk factor of deprivation
• This is the total inability to feel any emotion for other people e.g. guilt, empathy
• This prevents the child from forming normal relationships throughout their life and is associated with criminal behaviour.

Question 11

what is the +ve AO3 point for Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Theory for explaining criminal behaviour

Answer 11

44 Juvenile Thieves:
- 44 teenage criminals accused of stealing referred to a clinic.
- Interviews took place
a) With the ‘thieves’ themselves to see whether they fit the criteria for “affectionless psychopathy”
b) With parents to determine whether the thieves had experienced maternal deprivation during the critical period
Results:
- 14/44 thieves could be described as affectionless psychopaths
- Affectionless psychopathy = lack of affection, guilt, empathy
- Of the 14, 12 had experienced prolonged separation from Mum during the critical period
- only 5 of the remaining (non psychopath) thieves had experienced maternal deprivation, and only 2 in a control group of 44 non thieves
Conclusion:
- The results clearly show that maternal deprivation during the critical period is linked to thieving behaviour, and in the extreme, affectionless psychopathy.
- Totally supports Bowlby’s hypothesis.

Question 12

what are the -ve AO3 points for Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Theory for explaining criminal behaviour

Answer 12

• validity of interviews
• Lewis

Question 13

expand on the -ve AO3 point, validity of interviews (bowlby)

Answer 13

• Bowlby himself carried out the interviews with the thieves, there was no inter –rater reliability established
• We are relying on parent’s memories being accurate and this is problematic because you know from your studies in MEMORY that it is fallible!

Question 14

expand on the -ve AO3 point, Lewis (bowlby)

Answer 14

• Replicated Bowlby’s study with 500 teenagers
• Found absolutely no link between maternal deprivation during the critical period and criminality or psychopathy
• No support for Bowlby at all!