Freud's psychodynamic theory

What is The ID

• The ID is present from birth to 18 months

• Also called ‘the pleasure principle

• The selfish, childish animalistic part of your personality

• Unconscious drives and instincts

Acting on these urges whenever we felt like would lead to antisocial and deviant behaviour

What is the Superego

• This develops between the age of 3 & 6

• It is our conscience

• Learnt through interactions with our parents during early socialisation in the family

• We get punished if we go against our superego by making us feel guilty and anxious

• A underdeveloped super ego makes an individual feel overly guilty and remorse. They may feel so much guilt they commit crimes as a punishment to themselves

What is The Ego

• Called the ‘reality principle’ - learns that our actions have consequences

• The ego is a balance between The ID and The Superego

Evaluation of Freud

Strengths:

This theory is the only explanation of offending behaviour that deals with feelings of anxiety etc

It recognises how important childhood experiences are - which has lead to a lot of research into this

Limitations

Critics doubt the existence of the unconscious mind - how can we prove its real

These theories are unscientific and subjective and they are only relying on an singular individuals opinions