Psychological explanations: psychodynamic

• What are the three components of Freud's tripartite structure of personality?

  Id, Ego, Superego
• When is the Superego formed according to Freud?

  At the end of the phallic stage
• What principle does the Superego operate on?

  Morality principle
• How does the Superego influence the Ego?

  By punishing with guilt or rewarding with pride
• What happens if the Superego is inadequate according to Ronald Blackburn?

  Offending behaviour is inevitable
• What are the three types of inadequate Superego proposed by Blackburn?

  1. Weak Superego
  2. Deviant Superego
  3. Over-harsh Superego
• What characterizes a weak Superego?

  Absence of same-sex parent during phallic stage
• What is the consequence of a deviant Superego?

  Internalizes immoral or deviant values
• How does an over-harsh Superego affect a child?

  Cripples them with guilt and anxiety
• What role do primitive emotional demands play in moral behaviour?

  They guide moral behaviour when Superego is inadequate
• Who developed the theory of maternal deprivation?

  John Bowlby
• What is the main argument of Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation?

  Warm relationship with mother is essential
• What personality type develops from maternal deprivation?

  Affectionless psychopathy
• What are the characteristics of affectionless psychopathy?

  Lack of guilt, empathy, and feeling for others
• How many juvenile thieves did Bowlby study?

  44 juvenile thieves
• What did Bowlby find about the juvenile thieves with affectionless psychopathy?

  12 had prolonged separation from mothers
• What does research by Miroslav Goreta support?

  The link between offending and the Superego
• What did Goreta diagnose in offenders?

  Disturbances in Superego formation
• What is a counterpoint to the inadequate Superego theory?

  Punitive parents raise rebellious children
• What is a limitation of Freudian theory regarding gender?

  It is gender-biased
• What did Martin Hoffman find regarding gender differences?

  Little evidence of gender differences in morality
• What is a limitation of Bowlby's theory according to Hilda Lewis?

  Maternal deprivation is a poor predictor of offending
• What does Lewis suggest about the relationship between maternal deprivation and offending?

  It may not be a causal relationship
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the psychodynamic approach to offending?

  Strengths:

  • Research support for Superego link to offending
  • Insights into emotional factors in behaviour

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Gender bias in Superego development
  • Maternal deprivation not a strong predictor