psychodynamic explanations of crime Flashcards
inadequate superego
superego punishes Ego with feelings of guilt for wrong doing and rewards it with pride for good, moral behaviours
in criminals, superego can be inadequate in 3 ways:
- weak superego
- deviant superego
- overactive/strong superego
the weak superego
caused by absent same sec parent in phallic stage - 3 to 6 years
child can’t identify with same sex parent
superego is underdeveloped and so the dominant id takes over (selfish, high risk of crime)
the deviant superego
caused by internalisation of immoral superego from deviant parent
identify with same sex parent in phallic stage but this parent is deviant
child more likely to be criminal
overactive superego
superego is overactive and trying to be moralistically perfect.
causes person to become anxious and guilty causing them to seek punishment and do so by committing criminal acts
strength of inadequate superego - support from studies
E: Ressler - 42% of murderers (sexual motive) reported they had been victim of sexual abuse as child. Dietz + Warren - 76% of rapists they interviewed had been abused when young
C: supports superego theory as superego comes from parents so if sexual abuse is learnt when young, they will repeat this. They have internalised values of same sex parent
limitation of inadequate superego - gender bias
E: explanation states that females have a weaker supergeo, as during phallic stage there is less pressure to identify with same sex role model as they don’t have castration anxiety. So, you would expect females to commit more crime.
C: limitation as there are more males in prison. in UK 2023, 96% in prison are males and 4% females. So explanation is less valid
limitation of inadequate superego - untestable theory
E: unconscious mind including a 3 part personality can’t be studied scientifically, so approach is not objective. Approach is therefore considered pseudoscientific or fake science.
C: limitation as if you’re unable to test the theory scientifically, your conclusions and suggestions lack validity on psychodynamic explanations of crime. This then affects research negatively as the explanation can’t explain why offenders commit their crimes.
Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation
he proposed that ability to form meaningful social relationships in adulthood was dependent on a close, warm and continuous relationship with mother in critical period (2.5 years)
this relationship acts as prototype for all future relationships so disruption would lead to affectionless psychopathy - lacks remorse, empathy
Bowlby’s 44 thieves study
14/44 deemed affectionless psychopaths
12/14 had experienced prolonged separation during critical period
maternal deprivation caused AP and thus can lead to criminality
limitation of Bowlby - issues with theory and study
E: Bowlby developed theory of maternal deprivation and then conducted the supporting research ‘44 thieves’
C: may be researcher bias as Bowlby had conducted research and created theory, so he may have manipulated research to support his theory, questioning validity of research
