Psychological - Psychodynamic

Question 1

What are the psychodynamic explanations

Answer 1

Different forces, mostly unconscious that operate and direct human behaviour

Question 2

What is an inadequate superego

Answer 2

Blackburn 1993
• argued if the superego is inadequate (weak, deviant, overdeveloped) the Id is given “free reign”
• an uncontrolled Id makes offending behaviour inevitable

Question 3

Describe weak superego

Answer 3

• during phallic stage superego is formed through the resolution of Oedipus/electra complex
• if the same sex parent is absent at this stage, the child can’t internalise a fully formed superego
• no opportunity for identification

Question 4

Describe deviant superego

Answer 4

• Child internalised same sex parents moral attitudes to for superego
• if these internalised moral attitudes are deviant this leads to a deviant superego

Question 5

Describe overdeveloped superego

Answer 5

• an excessively punitive parent creates a child who has an overdeveloped superego due to crippled guilt & anxiety
• may perform criminal acts to satisfy the superegos overwhelming need for punishment

Question 6

Role of emotion

Answer 6

• psychodynamic deals well with the emotional life of the individuals & role in offending
• emotions guide moral behaviour

Question 7

Bowlbys maternal deprivation theory

Answer 7

• A warm continuous relationship w a mother figure is critical to future relationships & development
• a loss in infancy (maternal deprivation) leads to affection less psychopathy (lack of empathy)

Question 8

Strength
- research support

Answer 8

Goreta 1991
- Freudian style analysis of offenders referred to psychiatric treatment
- superego formation was diagnosed
- each offender experienced a need for punishment
- manifesting itself as a desire to commit crime

Question 9

Limitation
- gender bias

Answer 9

• assumes girls develop weaker superegos than boys (don’t experience castration anxiety)
• however, 20x more men than women in prison
• Hoffman found no gender differences in children moral behaviour
• suggests there’s alpha bias at the heart of Freud theory

Question 10

Limitation
- bowlbys theory based on association

Answer 10

Lewis 1954
- analysed 500 interviews with young ppl
- maternal deprivation was a poor predictor of future offending & the ability to form close relationships
- even if there’s a link there’s countless other explanations
- may be one of the reasons for later offending behaviour but not the only reason