The Psychodynamic Explanation

Question 1

Psychodynamic

Answer 1

Freud- childhood
The diff forces( unconscious) that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience

Question 2

The inadequate superego

Answer 2

Should- Pushes ego through guilt of wrongdoing
Blackburn- if it’s inadequate, offending is inevitable. ID isn’t controlled
Three types:
1) weak superego - same gender parent absent during phallic, can’t identify making offending likely
2) deviant superego- identify with deviant father, leads to offending
3) over harsh superego- harsh parenting, child crippled by guilt and anxiety, drive to crime to satisfy superegos need for punishment

Question 3

The role of emotion

Answer 3

Effect of inadequate superego= allow primitive emotional demands to become guiding to moral behaviour
Acknowledges guilt and anxiety

Question 4

Theory of maternal deprivation

Answer 4

Bowlby-to form meaningful relationships depends on child forming warm, continuous relationship with mother- failure= consequences
Eg. Affectionless psychopathy- lack of guilt and empathy - engage in delinquency

Question 5

Bowlby- 44 juvenile thieves

Answer 5

Through interviews with them and their families, 14 had affectionless psychopathy. Of these 12 had prolonged sep from mother in infancy
Maternal deprivation caused this behaviour

Question 6

Strength- research support

Answer 6

Link between offending and superego
Goreta- Freudian style analysis of 10 offenders referred for psychiatric treatment
In all superego disturbances
Each had guilt and need for self punishment, over harsh super ego

Question 7

Limitation - counterpoint

Answer 7

General principles of inadequate superego not supported.
Harsh parents raise children, expect to be guilty and anxious but they rebel instead
Questions relation between strict parents and guilt

Question 8

Limitation- gender bias

Answer 8

Girls develop weak superego as identification isn’t as strong. Don’t experience castration anxiety
Implies women should be more prone to offending but prison rates oppose
Hoffman- kids had to resist temptation - no differences
Alpha bias in freuds theory so not appropriate explanation

Question 9

Limitation-other factors

Answer 9

Bowlbys theory is only based on maternal dep and offending
Lewis-analysed data from interviews with 500 young offenders- maternal dep was a poor predictor of future offending and ability to form close relations in adolescence