Psychoanalysis

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

A personality theory
that states our
personality develops
through stages

Question 2

Personality

Answer 2

Is tripartite: ID, Ego and Superego.

These parts of our personality
develop during the first three
stages of development

Question 3

ID

Answer 3

Our instincts.
They are:
Present from birth
The pleasure principle

Question 4

Ego

Answer 4

Our reality
Develops from about 18 months
The reality principle
It is practical and acts as a Mediator between the Id and superego

Question 5

Superego

Answer 5

Our morality
Develops after completion of the Phallic stage.
Internalise morality of same sex parent
Our conscience and ego ideal

Question 6

THE TRIPARTITE PERSONALITY

Answer 6

Healthy = balance between them
ego should be strong enough to cope with the demands of the Id and Superego.
ID domination = impulsive, irresponsible behaviour => crime
Superego = domination = over moralistic + judgemental

Question 7

Weak Superego.

Answer 7

Same sex parent
absent during phallic
stage.
Child has no one to
identify with and no
morality to internalise.

Question 8

Harsh/Overdeveloped Superego

Answer 8

Strong identification with a strict parent.
Causing excessive guilt and anxiety

Question 9

Deviant Superego

Answer 9

The child identifies w/ same sex
parent but parent happens to
be criminal.
=> child develops the
same morality as a
criminal.

Question 10

Strengths

Answer 10

Theory points to the importance of early socialisation.
Psychoanalytic explanations have had some influence in policies for dealing with crime and deviance

Question 11

Weaknesses

Answer 11

Critics doubt the existence of an ‘unconscious mind’.
Psychoanalytic explanations are unscientific and subjective.