PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLANATION: PSYCHODYNAMIC EXPLANATIONS

Question 1

Define the psychodynamic explanations for crime

Answer 1

group of theories influenced by the work of Sigmund Freud which share the belief that unconscious conflicts, rooted in early
childhood and determined by interactions with parents, drive future - and in this case criminal - behaviour.

Question 2

What are the three psychodynamic explanations for offending behaviour

Answer 2

• Superego
  
  • maternal deprivation hypothesis
  • defence mechanisms

Question 3

What makes up the tripartite structure of personality (3)

Answer 3

• Superego
  
  • ID
  • ego

Question 4

What is the superego (3)

Answer 4

develops around the age of four and serves as an individual’s conscience.

 It is also the superego that has the ability to stop a behaviour.

Works on the morality principle and exerts influence by punishing ego

Question 5

What happens when a person has a strong superego

Answer 5

A strong superego will mean that the person feels guilt for their actions and this level of guilt means that they are unlikely to do something they think will affect others in an adverse way (for example, a crime).

Question 6

What happens if the superego does not develop properly

Answer 6

the conscience and ability to stop behaviour do not develop fully either, making the person more likely to commit a crime.

Question 7

What are the 3 ways the superego can underpin crime

Answer 7

• Deviant superego
  
  • overdevelop superego
  • underdeveloped superego

Question 8

Explain what deviant superego is and how this links to criminal behaviour (4)

Answer 8

Deviant superego:

- This focuses on the concept of identification.
- which occurs during the phallic stage→ when the superego is developing.
- The argument is that the small child identifies with the same-sex parent to resolve their Oedipus complex (in the case of boys) or their Electra complex (in the case of girls).⇒ Identification means adopting similar behaviour to the same-sex parent
- if that behaviour is deviant in any way, the small child adopts similar behaviours and morals.

Question 9

Explain what Overdeveloped Superego is and how this links to criminal behaviour (4)

Answer 9

Overdeveloped superego:

- This superego has not had an issue with developing as such, it is more that the superego is very developed
- individual feels large amounts of guilt most of the time.
- This would seem to suggest that the person is less likely to commit crime, but the psychodynamic argument is that crime serves as a release from the overwhelming feelings of guilt.
- However, this relief is argued to occur only when the criminal is caught and punished. The punishment is a way of relieving the conscience. In other words, the punishment makes the individual feel better.

Question 10

Explain what Underdeveloped Superego is and how does this link to criminal behaviour (3)

Answer 10

Underdeveloped superego:

- An underdeveloped superego can occur if there have been issues for the individual between the ages of approximately four and six when the superego is developing.
- If it does not develop sufficiently, the ability to feel guilt and stop behaviour is impaired.
- leaves the person to be dominated by their id impulses⇒ The id is the part of the personality that acts in a selfish manner and pursues pleasure.⇒This can clearly lead to criminal activity.

Question 11

Explain bowlbys theory

Answer 11

Bowlby’s argued that the early years were vital in shaping the adult personality. If they receive love and care from their primary attachment figure then they will grow to be able to develop strong positive attachments for the rest of their lives.

Question 12

Explain The maternal deprivation hypothesis (4)

Answer 12

• if a child does not receive this secure start in life, they are likely to be affected for the lifespan with issues in forming relationships.
  
  • If there is disruption (for example, a separation) in the relationship with the primary caregiver= maternal deprivation.
  • This means the child will form a negative representation of the world as a hostile place and they will struggle to form attachments. This could, it is argued, lead to delinquent behaviour as they grow.
  • experience a number of damaging and irreversible consequences in later life. One of these is the development of a particular personality type, known as affectionless psychopathy, characterised by a lack of guilt, empathy and feeling for others.

Question 13

What was the method used, findings (3) & conclusion of the study bowlby conducted on the 44 juveniles thieves

Answer 13

through interviews with the thieves and their families:

- that 14 of the sample he studied showed personality and behavioural characteristics that could be classified as 'affectionless psychopathy'.
- Of this 14, 12 had experienced prolonged separation from their mothers during infancy (in particular, the first two years of their lives).
- In a non-criminal group, only two had experienced similar early separation

Bowlby concluded that the effects of maternal deprivation had caused affectionless and delinquent behavior among the juvenile thieves.

Question 14

What are defence mechanisms (2)

Answer 14

Defence mechanisms are used by the unconscious mind to reduce anxiety.

This is because psychodynamic theorists believe that anxiety will weaken the ego, and the id or the superego will become dominant.

Question 15

What are the 3 main defence mechanisms used to explain criminal behaviour

Answer 15

• Displacement
  
  • Sublimation
  • Rationalisation

Question 16

Explain what Displacement is as DM + example

Answer 16

Displacement - this is when the focus of a strong emotion is shifted from its actual target to a neutral target. In terms of offending behaviour
an example of this might be a young man fighting a stranger in a pub because he is really angry with his parents.

Question 17

Explain what Sublimation is as DM + example

Answer 17

Sublimation - this is when a strong id impulse is expressed in a more socially accepted way

such as a football supporter wanting to murder but instead getting involved in football hooliganism. This still is not socially
acceptable but is seen to be a diluted expression of the unconscious desire.

Question 18

Explain what Rationalisation is as DM + example

Answer 18

Rationalisation:

this is explaining behaviour in a rational and
acceptable way when it is actually very negative. Offenders use this defence mechanism as a form of justification for their crime. 

An example would be a woman who kills prostitutes because she believes they are a
threat to a civilised society.

Question 19

Evaluate gender bias in the psychodynamic explanation (-ve) (4 + Hoffman’s study)

Answer 19

• Freudian theory is the idea that girls develop a weaker superego than boys.
  
  • Having not experienced castration anxiety, girls are under less pressure to identify with their mothers (than boys are with their fathers), so their superego - and consequently their
    sense of morality - is less fully realised.
  • The implication of this is that females should be more prone to criminal behaviour than males.
  • This is simply not supported by evidence - not least, statistics of the male-female ratio of inmates in prison.
  Hoffman: In a study where children were required to resist temptation, found hardly any evidence of gender differences, and when there was, little girls tended to be more moral than little boys.

Question 20

Evaluate methodological issues with bowlbys research (-ve) (2)

Answer 20

Bowlby’s 44 thieves study has been heavily criticised. He has been accused of researcher bias (conformation bias) as his preconceptions of what he expected to find may have influenced the responses of his interviewees.

also failed to draw a distinction between deprivation and privation within his research→ Many of the thieves he studied had experienced privation, which many commenters consider to be more damaging than deprivation.