Psychodynamic Explanation for Offending Behaviour - Psychodynamic Explanation

Question 1

What does the psychodynamic explanation suggest about offending behaviour?

Answer 1

Offending occurs due to an inadequate superego.

Question 2

What is a weak superego?

Answer 2

A weak superego occurs when the same-sex parent is absent during the phallic stage, leading to less control over the id’s impulses and impulsive crimes like theft.

Question 3

What is a deviant superego?

Answer 3

A deviant superego arises when the same-sex parent has deviant or pro-crime morals, causing the child to internalise these values and making crime more likely.

Question 4

What is an over-harsh superego?

Answer 4

An over-harsh superego is overly punitive, leading individuals to commit crimes to satisfy an unconscious desire for punishment.

Question 5

What is a limitation of the psychodynamic explanation regarding single-parent households?

Answer 5

Not all children raised by a single parent of the opposite sex offend, questioning the credibility of the explanation.

Question 6

What is a limitation related to gender differences in superego strength?

Answer 6

Freud argued girls have weaker superegos than boys, implying females should offend more, but statistics show males offend more, contradicting the theory.

Question 7

What is a limitation concerning genetic inheritance?

Answer 7

If children of deviant parents offend, it might be due to genetic inheritance rather than internalising a deviant superego, reducing the theory’s credibility.

Question 8

What is a limitation related to the scientific credibility of the superego?

Answer 8

The superego is an unconscious concept that cannot be directly observed or measured, making the theory unscientific and unfalsifiable.