Approaches (with a link to criminal psychology)

Biological approach

• The influence of biological structures that on how we think and behave.

• Traits being passed on through genetics.

• The role of the brain

• Neurochemistry

• Evolution

Psychodynamic approach

• The role of the unconscious mind on our behaviour and way of thinking.

• Proposed by Freud - unconscious desires of sex

• Freudian slips expose their true desires

• Personality contains the id, ego and superego

• Maternal deprivation can have a negative affect on development.

Id

• Pleasure principal

• Present at birth

Superego

• Morality principal

• Developed at 4/5 years

Ego

• Reality principal

• Develops at we interact with the world

• Acts as the mediator

Biological approach of John Massey

• Amygdala has shrunk - lack of fear

• Striatum has a large volume - big risks for big rewards

• Serotonin transporter gene gives low serotonin - lack of stress

• Insula reads differently to fearful faces and is less active - psychopathic personality

Psychodynamic approach of Jon Massey

• Weak superego - robbing banks with the believe that the money already belonged to him

• Believes that the murder of the bouncer was not his fault since the bouncer was involved with the fight

• Maternal deprivation - mum left him at a children’s home at age 3 and never found out why, possibly turned on the serotonin gene