unit 2 individualistic theories of criminality - psychodynamic theories

Question 1

what is freud’s psychoanalysis key idea?

Answer 1

our early childhood experiences determine our personality and future behaviour including criminality

Question 2

what are the three personalities?

Answer 2

elements of unconscious mind- id, ego and superego

Question 3

what is the id personality?

Answer 3

instinctive ‘animal’ part of mind - selfish, pleasure seeking

Question 4

what is the superego personality?

Answer 4

conscience or moral part of mind - acting against it leads to guilt and anxiety

Question 5

what is the ego personality?

Answer 5

referees the urges of id and superego. tries to satisfy the id’s urges in a socially acceptable way

Question 6

how does it link to crime?

Answer 6

anti-social behaviour caused by abnormal relationship with parents (neglect or excessively harsh or lax parenting). conflicts between id, ego and superego are unresolved which leads to a weak, over-harsh or deviant superego

Question 7

what is a weak superego?

Answer 7

less guilt feelings and more likely to act on id’s urges

Question 8

what is a harsh superego?

Answer 8

craves punishment to release guilt feelings

Question 9

what is a deviant superego?

Answer 9

successful socialisation but into deviant moral code

Question 10

what are three strengths of freud’s study?

Answer 10

points to importance of socialisation and early family relationships in understanding criminal behaviour, some influence on policies for dealing with crime and deviance, critics doubt the existence of the unconscious mind

Question 11

what is a limitation of freud’s study?

Answer 11

unscientific and subjective - relies on accepting claims of a psychoanalyst about the unconscious mind of someone else’s. no way to tell if they’re correct