Psychological Explenations, Psychodyamic

Question 1

Superego

Answer 1

-The superego is the morality principle formed at the phallic stage of development when the child internalised their same sex parent in order to overcome the Oedipus/Electra complex
-Blackburn suggested that inadequate superegos leads to criminal behaviour due to the ID having ‘free reign’

Question 2

What are the three types of inadequate superego

Answer 2

-Weak superego
-Deviant superego
-Over harsh superego

Question 3

Weak superego

Answer 3

If the same sex parent is absent during the phallic stage then the child cannot identify and internalise their superego making criminal behaviour more likely

Question 4

Deviant superego

Answer 4

-The child identifies and internalises with an immoral superego with deviant values leading to criminal behaviour
-A boy raised by a criminal father

Question 5

Over harsh superego

Answer 5

-The result of excessively harsh parenting leading to a harsh superego crippled with guilt and anxiety
-This unconsciously drives criminal behaviour in order to satisfy the need to be punished

Question 6

Bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation

Answer 6

-Affection less psychopathy is the results of deprivation and failure to form an attachment in the critical period
-Characterised by a lack of guilt and empathy