Psychoanalysis Theory -Psycodynamic

Psychodynamic Theories

This is a personality theory that states our personality develops through stages, This theory sees our personality as containing an active forces that cause us to act in the way we do

Psychoanalysis: Freud

Freud suggested that the part of the mind we know about is simply 'the tip of an iceberg'
Most of our mind is unconscious - these are biological drives that determine our behaviour & personality. These unconscious forces drive all behaviour - including criminality.

Freud and Personality

Our early childhoods experiences determine our personality and future behaviours Early experiences will determine if we have antisocial ways According to Freud the personality is made up of three parts, Id, Ego and Superego It is known as the Tripartite Theory of Personality

ID:

Present at birth and operates on the pleasure principle - it gets what it wants. Represents our basic needs ,Requires instant gratification ,Selfish and primitive

EGO: Develops at around the age of two and it works on the reality principle. It reduces conflict between the ID & SUPEREGO using defence mechanisms.

SUPEREGO:

Develops around the age of 5 years old and it works on the morality principle. It represents the moral standards of the same-sex parent and is responsible for guilt.

Freud and Criminal Behaviour

A health personality needs a balance of all 3 parts However personality can become dominated by one aspect

ID:

A person will act impulsively 'taking what they want', leading to criminal behaviour.

SUPEREGO:

A person will be moralistic and judgemental when perfection is not achieved.

EGO:

Struggle to accept changed and have a fixed / rigid lifestyle.

Weak Superego

Same sex parent is absent during phallic stage Child has no one to identify with and no morality to internalise.

Harsh or Overdeveloped Superego

Strong identification with a strict parent. Causing excessive guilt and anxiety

Deviant Superego

The child identifies with same sex parent but that parent happens to be criminal. Therefore, the child develops the same morality as a criminal.

Developing Conscience

As we reach the phallic stage at around 3 years. We go through a stage known as the Oedipus complex ,Electra Complex in girls. This stage involves a strong love and desire for the opposite sex parent and a fear of the same sex parent (or fear of losing mothers love in girls) This turns into the child identifying with the same sex parent and internalising their values and beliefs. Therefore, the child internalises the morality of their same sex parent.

Developing a Dominant id

A person will develop a dominant ID in the event that children don't fully develop ego's and superego's through identifying with their same-sex parents.

Psychoanalysis: Strengths

Points to importance of early socialisation and family relationships in understanding criminal behaviour Have some influence on policy dealing with crime and deviance

Psychoanalysis:Weaknesses

Doubt the existence of the "unconscious mind" - how do we know it exists? Unscientific and subjective Rely on claims of the psychoanalyst's that they can see into the workings of an individuals mind to discover conflict and motivation