Psychodynamic theories

Psychoanalysis

* Founded by ==Sigmund Freud==
* Says our early childhood experiences ==determine our personality and future behaviour==
* Personality contains three elements that are ==in tensions with one another==

The ID

* Located in the ==unconscious + instinctive part== of the mind
* Contains ==powerful and selfish needs==/drives e.g. sex and food
* Governed by the ==‘pleasure principle’==
* If we act on these urges whenever it ==can lead to anti-social and criminal behaviour==

The Superego

* Contains our ==conscience or moral rules== which we ==learn through interaction with parents== through early socialisation
* Through socialisation, child internalises parents ideals
* If we act or think of acting against superego, ==it punishes us with guilt and anxiety==

The Ego

* Our behaviour is result of struggle between the id and superego
* Ego’s role is to ==balance the conflict==
* Driven by ==‘reality principle’== : Learns from experience and consequences
* In well-adjusted person: Acts in a way that s==atisfies id’s desires but also morally accepted by superego==

Psychoanalytic theories see:

* Anti social behaviour caused by an abnormal relationship with parents during early socialisation

A weakly developed superego:

* Means the individual feels less guilt about crime and acting on the id’s selfish urges

A too harsh and unforgiving superego:

* Creates deep-seated guilt in individual who then craves punishment as a release
* Person may engage in compulsive offending to be punished

A deviant superego:

* Where child is successfully socialised but into a deviant moral code
* As a result superego doesn’t inflict guilt for contemplating criminal acts

Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory

* A child needs a close continuous relationship with primary carer to develop normally
* If the attachment is broken through separation even for short period it can leave child unable to form close bonds


* Described as ‘affectionless psychopathy’ and can lead to criminal behaviour

Evidence

* 44 juvenile thieves