*Psychological Explanations:Psychodynamic Flashcards
What are the three parts that make up the personality according to psychodynamic theory?
Id, Ego, Superego
When is the superego formed?
At the end of the phallic stage of development
What complex must a child resolve for the superego to develop?
Oedipus complex (or Electra complex)
What principle does the superego operate on?
Morality principle
How does the superego exert its influence?
By punishing the ego through guilt or wrongdoing and rewarding it with pride for good moral behavior
According to Blackburn, what happens if the superego is deficient?
Offending behavior is inevitable
What is the weak superego?
Occurs when the same gendered parent is absent during the phallic stage, preventing full internalization
What is the deviant superego?
Occurs when a child internalizes immoral or deviant values
What can lead to offending behavior in terms of a deviant superego?
A boy raised by a criminal father may not associate guilt with wrongdoing
What characterizes an over-harsh superego?
Develops from overly harsh parenting, leading to guilt and anxiety
What can an over-harsh superego unconsciously drive a person to do?
Commit a crime to satisfy the superego’s need for punishment
What role does emotion play in the functioning of an adequate superego?
Primitive emotional demands guide moral behavior
What does the psychodynamic approach acknowledge in the context of offending behavior?
The role of anxiety and guilt
Who proposed the theory of maternal deprivation?
Bowlby
What is the consequence of failing to establish a relationship with a mother figure in early years?
Damaging and irreversible consequences
What can develop due to maternal deprivation?
Affectionless psychopathy
What are the characteristics of affectionless psychopathy?
- Lack of guilt
- Lack of empathy
- Likely to engage in delinquency
- Unable to form close relationships
What did Bowlby find in his study of juvenile thieves?
14 had characteristics of affectionless psychopathy; 12 experienced prolonged separation from mothers
What supports the link between offending and the superego?
Research such as Goreta’s analysis of offenders
What did Goreta find in his study of offenders?
All had superego disturbances and unconscious guilt
What is a limitation of the inadequate superego theory?
It isn’t often supported in research
What is a common misconception regarding harsh parenting and guilt?
Harsher parents often raise rebels who rarely express guilt or self-criticism
What is a gender bias in Freud’s theory regarding superego development?
Girls are suggested to develop a weaker superego due to less intense identification
What did Hoffman find in his temptation test regarding gender differences?
No gender difference
What did Lewis find regarding maternal deprivation and future offending?
Maternal deprivation was a poor predictor of future offending
What does a link between prolonged separation and offending not imply?
A causal relationship
Maternal deprivation may be one reason for offending but not the _______.
[only reason]
