Outline psychodynamic explanations of offending behaviour

Inadequate Superego can lead to immoral behaviour

Freud psychodynamic approach suggests that the super ego is guided by my morality principal leading to feelings of guilt of wrongdoing.

Blackburn (1993) Argued that if the super ego is an Inadequate (weak, defiant or over-harsh) then the ID (governed by the pleasure principle) is given ‘free rein’ an uncontrolled means that offending behaviour is inevitable.

1. Weak superego

Absence of same-sex parent

During the phallic stage the super ego is formed through the resolution of the Oedipus complex or electrical complex

If the same-sex parent is absent during this stage a child cannot internal a fully formed super ego as there is no opportunity for identification.

This would make offending behaviour more likely.

2. Deviant superego

Child infernalises deviant values

A child in 10 life is the same sex parents tomorrow attitudes to form their super ego. If these internal more attitudes are deviant this would lead to a deviant super ego and to offending behaviour

3. Overharsh superego

Committing crimes satisfies need for punishment

an exclusively punitive or Or overly harsh parent creates a child who has an over harsh super ego and the child is crippled by guilt and anxiety

This may unconsciously drive the individual to perform criminal acts in order to satisfy the super egos overwhelming need for punishment

The role of emotion

The psychodynamic approach deals with the emotional life of the individual With its role in offending unlike theories of crime emotion guide Moral behaviour

Maternal deprivation and affection less psychopathy

Bowlby )1944) argue at a warm continuous relationship with a Mother figure with a crucial to future relationship relationships well-being and development

A lot of attachment in infancy, i.e. maternal deprivation could lead to affection psychopathy lack of empathy and guilt and increase the likelihood of offending

44 juvenile thieves study supports Bowlbys maternal deprivation hypothesis

Bowlby 1944 found that 14 out of 44 thieves showed signs of affection with psychopathy 12 of these had prolonged separation from their mother in infancy in a control group. Only two thieves had experienced prolonged separation..