Psychology Forensics Psychodynamics

What is the super ego in Freuds theory and why is it relevent to offending?

The superego is the moral part of the personality that enforces ethical standards

If it is weak or faulty , moral restrain is reduced, increasing the likelihood of criminal behaviour

What are the three components of Freuds tripartited personlity ?

The Id , ego and superego

Imbalace between these structures can lead to impulsive or immoral behaviour linked to offending

How does the tripartide theory explain behaviour and why is this relevant to crime?

Behaviour results from conflict between the id , ego and superego

Crime may occur when the ids desires overpower the moral control of the super ego

When does the superego develop and why does this matter for offending?

It developes at the end of the phallic stage (around 6)

IF development is disrupted the child may form a weak or deviant superego, increasing criminal risk

What principle does the superego operate on and why is this relevant?

The morality principle

A damaged morality system means the person feels less guilt, making them more likely to offend

What principle does the id operate on and how does this relate to offending?

The plesure principle

If the id dominates the person seeks immediate gratification without considering consewuences causing criminal acts

What is an underdeveloped (weak) superego and how does it lead to offending?

Failure to identify with the same sex parent causing a weak moral conscience

Less guilt and fewer internal restrains increase the likelihood of immoral or criminal behaviour

What is an overdeveloped (or harsh) superego and how does it relate to offending?

Exessive guilt and self punishment

The person may commit crime to satisfy an unconcious desire to be punished

How can an harsh superego cause antisocial outburts?

The pressure to be perfect becomes overwhelming

This can lead to sudden aggression or antisocial behaviour

What is a deviant superego and how does it relate to offending?

Identifying with a criminal same-sex parent, internalising devient morals

Crime becomes normalised so the person feels no guilt when offending

Why does a deficinet supego allow the id to dominate ?

The moral regulator is weakened

Impulsive, plesure seeking behaviour goes unchecked increasing offending

Why is the id linked to criminal behaviour?

It seeks immediate gratification without morality

This aligns with impulsive , risk taking and antisocial acts

Why are the id , ego and superego not personality traits ?

They are unconscious structures not behaviours

Offending is explained by unconcious conflict not personlity labels

How does childhood experience influnce the superego and why is this relevant ?

Early psychosexual conflicts shape moral development

Disrupted chilhood causes faulty superego causing a higher risk of offending

What is bowlbys maternal deprevation hypothesis?

Prolonged separation from the mother in early childhood causes emotional and psychological damage

This damage can lead to personlaity traits linked to criminality

How does attachment relate to later behaviour according to bowlby?

Attachment builds empathy , identity and emotional regulation

Without these skills , antisocial and criminal behaviour becomes more likely

Why is maternal deprevation relevent to offending behaviour?

It can lead to affectionless psychopathy

This personality type is strongly associated with criminality

What is affectionless psychopathy an dwhy does it increase offending?

Lack of guilt, empathy and concern for others

Without emotional barriers, individuals are more likely to harm others or break laws

What behaviours indicate affectionless psychopathy?

Lack of remorse , cruelty, self focus, manipulation and inability to form relationships

These traits align with impulsive , exploitative and criminal behaviours

Why did Bowlby belive maternal depravation “primes” someone for criminality?

It prevents the development of concience and empathy

These deficits remove internal barriers to offending

What did Megargee find about violent offenders?

Some offenders with no prior history suddenly became violent

Supports the idea of a harsh super ego causing repressed anger that eventually explodes into crime

How does Megargees findings support psychodynaic explanations?

It shows that internal conflicts can produce sudden antisocial behaviour

Fits Freuds idea of unconcious forces dirving offending

What did bowlby find in the 44 Thieves study?

Offenders were ore likely to have experienced early maternal deprevation adn showed affectionless psychopathy

Directly links to early separation to later criminal behaviours

How does the 44 thieves study support maternal deprvation hypothesis?

It shows a correlation between deprivation and offending

Suggests early emotional loss contributes to criminal personality development

Why does Freuds theory have external validity?

He emphasised childhood shaping adult behaviour

Modern psychology supports this idea , strengthening the theorys credibility

How is the maternal deprivation theory useful in real world contexts?

It helps explain antisocial behaviour in children raised in institutions

Supports interventions for at risk children to prevent future offending

Why is Freuds theory considered unscientific?

It is subjective (relies on interpretation - non objective data)

unflasifiable (id , ego and super ego cannot be directrly observed or scientificaly tested so cannot be proven false)

and based on interpretation

Weakening its credibility as an explanation for offending

Why is the maternal deprevation hypothesis criticised for methodological issues ?

44 thives stydt shows reasearcher and confirmation bias , as Bowlby alreary belive that maternal deprevation caused effectionless psycopathy

Weakens evidence that supports the link between deprevation and crime

How is Freuds theory gender biased?

It is androcentric (focuses on male and masculine intrests ) and focuses on male development

Limiting the generalisability to female offenders

How does Bowlbys theory show alpha bias?

It overemphasises the mothers role and ignores father or other caregivers

Creating an unfair assumtion that mothers are solely responsible for preventing criminality