Psychodynamic explanations of offending

Question 1

What did Ronald Blackburn state?

Answer 1

Ronald Blackburn argued that if the superego is somehow deficient or inadequate then offending behaviour is inevitable because the id is given ‘free rein’ and not properly controlled

Question 2

What are the 3 types of inadequate superego that have been proposed?

Answer 2

The weak superego
The deviant superego
The over-harsh superego

Question 3

What does the weak superego state?

Answer 3

If the same-gender parent is absent during the phallic stage, a child cannot internalise a fully-formed superego as there is no opportunity for identification. This would make immoral or offending behaviour more likely

Question 4

What does the deviant superego state?

Answer 4

If the superego that a child internalises has immoral or deviant values this would lead to offending behaviour. For instance, a boy who is raised by a criminal father is not likely to associate guilt with wrongdoing

Question 5

What does the over-harsh superego state?

Answer 5

A healthy superego is based on identification with a parent who has firm rules but forgives transgressions. In contrast an excessively punitive or overly harsh parenting style leads to a child with an over-harsh superego who is crippled by guilt and anxiety. This may (unconsciously) drive the individual to perform criminal acts in order to satisfy the superego’s overwhelming need for punishment.

Question 6

What is the effect of an inadequate superego?

Answer 6

To allow primitive, emotional demands to become uppermost in guiding moral behaviour

Question 7

What does the psychodynamic approach deal with?

Answer 7

The emotional life of the individual - for example, it acknowledges the role of anxiety and guilt in the development of offending behaviour, as in the case of maternal deprivation theory