Forensics - Psychodynamic Explanation

Question 1

Freud - Tripartite personality

Answer 1

ID: pleasure principle, demanding
Ego: reality principle, tries to satisfy needs of if with realistic ways to achieve the desires
Superego: morality principle, conscience given by parents, rules, society

Question 2

Blackburn

Answer 2

Superego likely to be linked to criminal behaviour as it is part of the personality that deals with moral behaviour & deciding right and wrong
Weak
Harsh
Deviant

Question 3

Weak superego

Answer 3

• Same sex parent absent during phallic stage - child can’t internalise fully formed superego - no identification
• Fail to internalise moral values of same-sec parent
• Immoral/criminal behaviour more likely

Question 4

Harsh superego

Answer 4

• Develops if same-sex parent overly-harsh
• Identify with same-sex parent
• Feel unable to ‘live up’ to parents standards
• Crippled by guilt & anxiety - commits crime in order to satisfy superego need for punishment

Question 5

Deviant superego

Answer 5

• Same-sex parent has immoral/deviant values - lead to offending behaviour
• Child internalises morals of criminal/deviant same-sex parent
• Not likely to associate guilt with wrongdoing

Question 6

Bowlby’s maternal deprivation

Answer 6

-Infant deprived of mother during CP - serious consequences
- Mental abnormalities, delinquency, depression, affectionless psychopathy

Question 7

Affectionless psychopahy

Answer 7

Inability to form meaningful social relationships in adulthood, lack of empathy, little/no remorse due to absence of a close, warm relationship with mother during CP

Question 8

Bowlby 44 Thieves study

Answer 8

44 juvenile thieves
14/44 thieves were affectionless psychopaths
12 of AF experienced prolonged separation from mothers in CP
2 of non-thieves experienced prolonged separation

Question 9

Evaluation of psychodynamic

Answer 9

Advantages:
Considers role of emotional factors
Explains how feelings of anxiety & rejection may contribute to offending
Recognises influence of early childhood experiences in moulding adult personality
Bowlby NDH supports & has research

Limitations:
Lack of falsifiability - unconscious
No empirical/scientific evidence - little validity
Gender bias - women should develop weaker superego because they don’t identify with mother but isn’t shown in stats
People have disruption in attachment but don’t commit crime
Psychic determinism