AC2.2 Flashcards
(23 cards)
Name 2 psychodynamic theories
Psychoanalysis
Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory
What is Sigmund Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis?
Human behaviour is driven by unconscious mental processes, including repressed memories, desires, and instincts. It suggests that the psyche consists of three key components: the id, ego, and superego
What are 2 strengths to Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis?
His reasoning of childhood experiences shaping the people we are today is a perspective that remains relevant
Freud’s psychoanalytic approach led to the development of a form of therapy that emphasises self-reflection, insight, and uncovering unconscious conflicts
What are 3 weaknesses to Freud’s theory?
Lacks scientific merit, research is qualitative
Immeasurable concepts, there’s never been any proof to the physical existence of the id, ego, or superego like he suggests
What is Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory?
Early and prolonged separation from a child’s primary caregiver (often the mother) can negatively impact their emotional, social, and cognitive development
What are 2 strengths of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory?
Bowlby’s theory had a genuine impact on how children were treated during separation from their parents, such as during hospital stays
Studies have supported the theory, women who had experienced separation from their mothers for at least a year found that 25% experienced depression or an anxiety disorder, compared with 15% of a control group
What are 3 weaknesses of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory?
Inaccuracy, Bowlby’s research relied on participants recalling past separations, which may have been subject to inaccuracies or distortions in memory
Investigative bias, Bowlby’s diagnosis of “affectionless psychopathy” might have been influenced by his own biases and expectations
Tunnel vision of mother-child relationship, didn’t consider effects of other caregivers
What is Eysenck’s personality theory?
Personality is largely governed by biology, and he viewed people as having two specific personality dimensions: extroversion vs. introversion and neuroticism vs. stability
What are 2 strengths to Eysenck’s personality theory?
Combination of both biological and social factors
Elements of quantifiability, despite quantatative collection of data
What are 3 weaknesses to Eysenck’s personality theory?
Self-reporting is unreliable
Doesn’t give explanatory reasoning why certain personality traits cause criminality
Arguably oversimplifies the infamously vastly complex human brain
What are 3 learning theories?
Sutherland’s differential association theory
Operant learning theory
Social learning theory
What is Sutherland’s differential association theory?
Individuals learn criminal behaviour largely in the family and peer groups
What are 2 strengths to Sutherland’s differential association theory?
Accounts for crime within all sectors of society
Offers a logical framework to the reasoning of development of criminal behaviours
What are 3 weaknesses to Sutherland’s differential association theory?
Fairly deterministic, strips away almost all blame away from individuals
Indirectly supports harmful stereotypes
Outdated in certain aspects, limited mention of media influence
What is the operant leaning theory?
Behaviours are modified by their consequences
What are 2 strengths of operant learning theory?
It is widely applied, such as in school and in prisons via the form of token economies
It has falsifiability, meaning it can be proved with scientific testing, and arguably was proved with decent reliability with ‘Skinner Box’
What are 3 weaknesses of operant learning theory?
Skinner’s research is ethically questionable (electrically shocking rats)
Applying rat psychology to that of humans brings the evidence into question
Prioritises observable behaviours and overlooks the effect on internal cognitive processes
What is the social learning theory?
People learn much of their behaviour by imitating others
What are strengths to social learning theory?
Recognises that learning is a continuous process throughout life (not just in childhood)
Emphasises the importance of the social environment that surrounds us and how it can change us
What are weaknesses to social learning theory?
Doesn’t account for crimes that occur with no prior exposure
Ethical issue during the research of knowingly risking aggravating aggression into children
Doesn’t account for internal cognitive differences
What are two cognitive theories?
Criminal personality theory
Kohlberg’s moral personality theory
What is criminal personality theory?
Criminals are prone to faulty thinkingW
What is Kohlberg’s moral development theory?
Proposes that individuals progress through stages of moral reasoning, organised into three levels: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional
