**L8 - Psychodynamic Explanations of Criminality

Question 1

what is the STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY?

Answer 1

PERSONALITY has a TRIPARTITE STRUCTURE, it is made up of the ID, EGO and the SUPEREGO. The ID OPERATES on the PLEASURE PRINCIPLE, the EGO OPERATES ON THE REALITY PRINCIPLE and must also COMPROMISE BETWEEN the IMPULSIVE DEMANDS OF THE ID and the MORALISTIC DEMANDS OF THE SUPEREGO

The SUPEREGO OPERATES ON THE MORALITY PRINCIPLE, it CONTAINS OUR CONSCIENCE, the INTERNALISATION of SOCIETAL RULES, it DETERMINES WHICH BEHAVIOURS ARE MORALLY ACCEPTABLE and CAUSES FEELINGS OF GUILT when RULES ARE BROKEN, or PRIDE when we EXHIBIT MORAL BEHAVIOUR

Question 2

the SUPEREGO and its CONFLICTS?

Answer 2

the SUPEREGO is the LAST ASPECT OF PERSONALITY TO FORM. It DEVELOPS AT THE END OF THE PHALLIC STAGE of PSYCHOSEXUAL DEVELOPMENT at 3-6 YEARS OLD

The MAJOR CONFLICT of this stage is the OEDIPUS COMPLEX for for BOYS and for girls the ELECTRA COMPLEX. Both of these CONFLICTS ARE RESOLVED when the CHILD EVENTUALLY INTERNALISES the SAME SEX PARENT’S SUPEREGO, CREATING THEIR OWN.

However GIRLS DO NOT INTERNALISE THEIR MOTHER’S SUPEREGO TO THE SAME EXTENT AS BOYS DO THEIR FATHER’S, and so GIRL’S SUPEREGO is LESS WELL DEVELOPED THAN A MALE SUPEREGO

Question 3

what did BLACKBURN ARGUE?

Answer 3

BLACKBURN ARGUED that if the SUPEREGO is SOMEHOW DEFICIENT or INADEQUATE then CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR is INEVITABLE because the ID IS NOT PROPERLY CONTROLLED

Question 4

what are the 3 TYPES of INADEQUATE SUPEREGO?

Answer 4

1) WEAK SUPEREGO
2) DEVIANT SUPEREGO
3) OVER HARSH SUPEREGO

Question 5

what is the WEAK SUPEREGO?

Answer 5

children form a WEAK SUPEREGO if the SAME SEX PARENT is ABSENT DURING THE PHALLIC STAGE, this is because the child CANNOT INTERNALISE A FULLY FORMED SUPEREGO because there is NO OPPORTUNITY FOR IDENTIFICATION

This would make OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR LIKELY

Question 6

what is the DEVIANT SUPEREGO?

Answer 6

children form a DEVIANT SUPEREGO if they INTERNALISE IMMORAL OR DEVIANT VALUES, this can LEAD TO OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR

Question 7

what is the OVER HARSH SUPEREGO?

Answer 7

A HEALTHY SUPEREGO has RULES but is also FORGIVING OF MISTAKES, but an OVER HARSH SUPEREGO means an INDIVIDUAL IS CRIPPLED BY GUILT AND ANXIETY.

This may UNCONSCIOUSLY DRIVE THE INDIVIDUAL to PERFORM CRIMINAL ACTS in order to SATISFY THE SUPEREGO’S NEED FOR PUNISHMENT.

Question 8

• GIRLS’ SUPEREGO (EVALUATION OF THE PSCYHODYNAMIC APPROACH TO EXPLAINING CRIMINALITY)

Answer 8

• an ASSUMPTION of the PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH is the idea that GIRLS DEVELOP A WEAKER SUPEREGO THAN BOYS

The IMPLICATION is that GIRLS SHOULD BE MORE PRONE TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR, but this is SIMPLY NOT SUPPORTED BY CRIME STATISTICS which questions the VALIDITY OF THE PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH

Question 9

• HOFFMAN (EVALUATION OF THE PSCYHODYNAMIC APPROACH TO EXPLAINING CRIMINALITY)

Answer 9

• HOFFMAN TESTED CHILDREN’S ABILITY to RESIST TEMPTATION, he found HARDLY ANY GENDER DIFFERENCE, although GIRLS WERE SLIGHTLY MORE MORAL THAN BOYS

Question 10

• WEAK SUPEREGO (EVALUATION OF THE PSCYHODYNAMIC APPROACH TO EXPLAINING CRIMINALITY)

Answer 10

• there is VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE that CHILDREN RAISED WITHOUT A SAME SEX PARENT are LESS LAW ABIDING AS ADULTS (OR HAVE LESS OF A CONSCIENCE)

Question 11

• DEVIANT SUPEREGO (EVALUATION OF THE PSCYHODYNAMIC APPROACH TO EXPLAINING CRIMINALITY)

Answer 11

• if CHILDREN RAISED BY DEVIANT PARENTS go on to COMMIT CRIME THEMSELVES this COULD BE DUE TO GENETICS or LEARNING RATHER THAN A DEVIANT SUPEREGO

Question 12

• UNCONSCIOUS DESIRE FOR PUNISHMENT (EVALUATION OF THE PSCYHODYNAMIC APPROACH TO EXPLAINING CRIMINALITY)

Answer 12

• the IDEA that SOME CRIMINALS have an UNCONSCIOUS DESIRE FOR PUNISHMENT is IMPLAUSIBLE, MOST OFFENDERS go to GREAT LENGTHS to CONCEAL THEIR CRIME and SO AVOID PUNISHMENT