A03

• limitation- falsifiability

  • psychodynamic approach lacks falsifiability as we cannot empirically test unconscious concepts such as the superego
  • additionally, lack of scientific standardised procedures in testing means results cannot be replicated to produce reliability
  • thus the approach to offending is considered pseudoscience and is not useful in understanding criminal behaviour
• limitation- bowlby

  • bowlby correlation research does not determine causation
  • for example, if those with a deviant parent go on to offend themselves it could be due to genetic factors eg mutations in the MAOA gene being inherited instead of deviant super ego
  • additionally, bowlby accussed of influencing the responses of his ppts and so researcher bias was present reducing the validity of results