psychodynamic explanations of offending behaviour

• superego in freudian psychology is the morality principle which is formed in the phallic stage by identifying with the same sex parent.
• the superego attempts to regulate behaviour through feelings of guilt and pride
• underdeveloped superego - weak because there was no identification with the same sex parent

  parent is mostly absent during phallic stage which led to no internalisation of beliefs
• overdeveloped superego - too strong because of over identification and crime is done to satisfy the need to punish self
• deviant superego - normal identification but parent is a criminal so the behaviours imitated are criminal

  raised by criminal, internalises deviant behaviour
• defence mechanisms are unconscious processes to avoid anxiety
• the role of denial on criminality is it rejects reality and the serious nature of the crime
• displacement in regard to criminality is it releases anger onto weaker targets
• rationalisation argues that the crime is 'justified' in some way
• attachment theory in crime - because of an insecure attachment as an infant, the internal working model for relationships lacks trust which leads to negative adult interactions and crime
• maternal deprivation leads to affectionless psychopathy which is no empathy = deliquent children
• practical application of the psychodynamic theory in criminal behaviour - theories on this link can be applied to reduce crime.

  
  

  can ensure children's superego not overdeveloped or underdeveloped with parenting classes
• limitation of this approach - freudian concepts not dricetly observable or falsifiable meaning it cannot be empirically tested and will always be an unscientific explanation
• limitation of this approach - freudian concepts not directly observable or falsifiable meaning it cannot be empirically tested and will always be an unscientific explanation
• gender bias - because females do not resolve their complex they have weaker superegos and are less moral

  alpha bias and due to Freud's androcentric view.
• COUNTER TO FREUD 


  men more likely to be offenders compared to women