Unit 2 2.3 Individualistic Theories

Question 1

Frauds psychoanalysis

Answer 1

Traumatic experience in early childhood leave their mark on the individual despite the fact that the individual was not aware of these experiences.
Id- pleasure principal, the blind desire to satisfy its urges at any cost.
Ego - balance between the Id desires and superego consciousness
Superego - conscience or moral rules learn this through socialising with family in early life.
A weak superego makes people less guilty and don’t feel guilt
Too harsh superego makes people crave punishment and will have deep guilt

Question 2

Freud weaknesses

Answer 2

Not scientific no experiments because it’s 1920/30s no brain scans, fmri, no control group, it was all his subjective opinion.
Unrepresentative- sample was small 15 children mates kids
Unethical inappropriate questions/themes for kids

Question 3

Freud strengths

Answer 3

Psychoanalysis is available in therapy/counselling today
First theory considering emotions, parents relationships, feeling/desires, upbringing, traumatic events

Question 4

Bowlbys maternal deprivation

Answer 4

A link between maternal deprivation and deviant antisocial behaviour
Friction 5 years of a child’s life was the most crucial to socialise
The infant and mother relationship develops during first 5 years
Affectionless psychopathy, lacks empathy for others, lack of consideration for stranger, emotionless
44 juvenile thieves found that 39% of them suffered maternal deprivation before 5. Control group 5% maternal deprivation non-delinquents. Only spoke to some mothers.

Question 5

Bowlbys strengths

Answer 5

Relevant in 2025 psychologists now know about upbringing/parental connection and Trauma.
Alot of criminals have experienced maternal deprivation.
Criminals can use this as diminished responsibility legal system recognise it as strong grounds

Question 6

Bowlbys weaknesses

Answer 6

Small sample