Psychodynamic Explanations

Question 1

WARNING

Answer 1

Freud didn’t address the issie of criminal behaviour himself, but other researchers have applied his key concepts

Question 2

Id

Answer 2

-pleasure principle
-entirely unconscious and present at birth, made up of selfish aggressive instincts that demand immediate gratification.

Question 3

Ego

Answer 3

-reality principle
-balances conflict demands of the Id and Superego

Question 4

Superego

Answer 4

-morality principle
-represents ideal self and how should be

Question 5

How does the superego develop?

Answer 5

-at phgalliuc stage around 3-5
-resolution of Oedipus or electra complex
-through resolution of either complex we identify with our same sex role model and internalise their values to create our superego

Question 6

Oedipus Complex

Answer 6

-boys develop incestuous feelings toward their mother and a murderous hatred for their rival love (father)
-fearing their father will castrate them,boys repress their feelings from mother and identify with their father taking on his gender role and moral values

Question 7

Electra Complex

Answer 7

-girls experience penis envy after realising they don’t possess their own, they desire father as penis is primary love object and hate their mother.
-give up desire over time and replace with desire for a baby.

Question 8

The Inadequate Superego

Answer 8

-superego formed at the end of the phallic stage when the Oedipus or electra complex has been resolved.
-superego works on morality principle and exert its influence by punishing the ego through guilt for wrongdoing and rewards with pride for moral behaviour.

Question 9

Blackburn- inadequate superego

Answer 9

Argued that if the superego is deficient or inadequate then criminal behaviour is inevitable as the id has free rein and isn’t controlled

Question 10

The Weak Superego

Answer 10

-there’s an absence of the same sex parent in the phallic stage
-child can’t identify with same sex parent.
-superego isn’t fully formed and the child has a lack of understanding of the difference between right and wrong
-the superego doesn’t punish the child through feelings of guilt
-the child will show criminal or immoral behaviour as the superego doesn’t hold them back.

Question 11

The Deviant Superego

Answer 11

-child identifies with their same sex parent but the parent is immoral or has immoral standards of behaviours.
-this child internalises morals that aren’t acceptable
-the child doesn’t see criminal behaviours in the same way as others and will not associate guilt and criminal behaviour

Question 12

The Overharsh Superego

Answer 12

• a healthy superego is firm and has rules of what behaviours are and aren’t acceptable but if these rules are broken, the superego will be forgiving.
• the over-harsh superego, which will not be forgiving, which increases guilt for wrongdoing.
  -the child will unconsciously seek opportunities where they will be reprimanded to reduce their sense of guilt leading to criminal behaviour to satisfy the superegos need for punishment.