Psychological Explanations: Psychodynamic Flashcards
What is the psychodynamic explanation of offending behaviour?
Suggests that human behaviour and experience is directed by different unconscious dynamics.
Focuses on the superego and maternal deprivation.
Which study supports maternal deprivation as an explanation of offending?
Bowlbys 44 thieves study.
14/44 thieves classified as affectionless psychopaths.
12/14 thieves with affectionless psychopathy experienced prolonged separation from their mother during the first 2 yrs of their life.
What is meant by affectionless psychopathy?
Where people have lack of guilt, empathy and feeling for others.
Results in delinquency and an inability to form relationships with others.
What is meant by maternal deprivation?
Prolonged separation from a mother figure during the first two years of an infants life.
When is the superego formed?
At the end of the phallic stage where children resolve the oedipus/electra complex.
What principle does the superego work on?
The morality principle - exerts influence on ego - punishes it via guilt, rewards it via pride.
What leads to the development of an inadequate superego?
If a child’s same-sex parent is absent during the phallic stage.
No opportunity for identification meaning they cannot internalise a fully formed superego.
How does an inadequate superego contribute to offending behaviour?
Gives ‘free rein’ to the id.
Ability to feel guilt and stop behaviour is impaired.
What leads to the development of a deviant superego?
When a child internalises a superego that has immoral values e.g a boy raised by a criminal father.
How does a deviant superego contribute to offending behaviour.
Children internalise immoral values which leads to offending.
What leads to the development of a over-harsh superego?
An excessively punitive parenting style.
How does the over-harsh superego contribute to offending behaviour?
Individual is crippled by guilt + anxiety.
Unconsciously performs criminal acts to satisfy the superego’s need for punishment.
Only gains relief when punished.
How is the psychodynamic explanation of crime different other explanations?
It deals with the emotional life of an individuals.
Acknowledges the role of guilt and anxiety in offending behaviour.
What is one strength of the psychodynamic explanation?
- Useful explanation for offending.
Bowlby suggested separation leads to criminality.
Shows early separation must be prevented.
Therefore, real life app.
What are 2 weaknesses of the psychodynamic explanation?
- Gender bias.
Freud assumes girls have weaker superegos than boys meaning they must commit more crime.
Stats show males commit more crime.
Therefore, wrong assumption made. - Contradictory evidence.
Little evidence that children born with out same sex parent are less law abiding.
Shows Blackburn’s theory must be incorrect as these differences would be evident in stats.
Therefore, invalid as no credible evidence
