Freud's Psychodynamic Theory

Question 1

What are the three components in Freud’s theory?

Answer 1

• Id.
• Ego.
• Superego.

Question 2

What does Freud suggest about criminal behaviour?

Answer 2

That it is a result of abnormal development of the psyche during childhood (traumatic experiences).

Question 3

What is the role of the id?

Answer 3

It is responsible for primitive desires, immediate gratification, and impulsive behaviours.

Question 4

What is the role of the ego?

Answer 4

It takes into account people’s feelings and is responsible for logical decisions; it strikes balance between the id and the superego which is achieved through defense mechanisms.

Question 5

What is the role of the superego?

Answer 5

It is responsible for moral and conscious decisions and is responsible for guilt (if the id is dominant).

Question 6

What are the three potential causes for criminal behaviour according to Freud?

Answer 6

• A weak superego.
• A deviant superego.
• An excessively harsh superego.

Question 7

What is a weak superego?

Answer 7

It punishes the ego with anxiety when an immoral act is contemplated and with guilt if the act is carried out.

Question 8

How does a weak superego develop?

Answer 8

It develops as a result of abnormal relationships within the family.

Question 9

If a child has a weak superego, what can they not do?

Answer 9

Internalise their parents’ moral code.

Question 10

What is a deviant superego?

Answer 10

This is where the superego has deviant values.

Question 11

How does a deviant superego develop?

Answer 11

If the parent’s behaviour is deviant then the child will adopt similar deviant behaviour and morals.

Question 12

What is an excessively harsh superego?

Answer 12

It makes the individual feel anxious and guilty most of the time and be punished for acting on any of the id’s desires, no matter how innocent.

Question 13

How can having an excessively harsh superego lead to crime?

Answer 13

An individual may commit a crime in order to get caught and be punished to ease the guilt.

Question 14

What does an excessively harsh superego prevent in an individual?

Answer 14

It prevents anyone expressing any antisocial impulses that inevitably build up in their conscious. These impulses would normally be expressed in harmless defense mechanisms, however this built up rage and suddenly be expressed in violence (murder).

Question 15

What are the two main evaluation points of Freud’s theory?

Answer 15

+ Positive contributions to other theories (Blackburn, 1993).
- Lacks falsifiability.