psychodynamic

• inadequate superego -

  • superego formed at the end of the phallic stage when children resolve the oedipus/ electra complex
  • superego works on morality principle and exerts its influence by punishing the ego through guilt for wrongdoing, whilst rewarding it with pride for good moral behaviour
  • Blackburn (1993) argued that if the superego is somehow deficient or inadequate then offending behaviour is inevitable because the Id is given free rein and not properly controlled
• 3 types of inadequate superego -

  • weak superego - if same gender parent is absent during the phallic stage - child cannot internalise a fully-formed superego
  • deviant superego - if superego a child internalises has immoral or deviant values this would lead to offending behaviour
  • over-harsh superego - healthy superego is based on identification with a parent who has firm rules but forgives transgressions - overly harsh parenting leads to child with over harsh superego + crippled by guilt and anxiety - unconsciously driveto criminal acts to satisfy superegos overwhelming need for punishment
• role of emotion -

  • effect of an inadequate superego - allows primitive, emotional demands to become uppermost in guiding moral behaviour
  • psychodynamic approach deals with emotional life of individual - eg role of anxiety and guilt in the development of offending behaviour
• theory of maternal deprivation -

  • ability to form meaningful relationships in adulthood was dependent on child forming warm, continuous relationship with mother-figure
  • failure to form this can lead to damaging and irreversible consequences in later life
  • eg affectionless psychopathy - maternally deprived individuals are likely to engage in acts of delinquency and cannot develop close relationships with others
• 44 juvenile thieves -

  • Bowlby (1944) interviews of 44 juvenile thieves and families
  • 14 showed personality and behavioural characteristics classes as affectionless psychopathy - of this 12 had experienced prolonged separation from their mothers during infancy
  • in non-offender group only 2 had experienced similar early separation
  • concluded effects of maternal deprivation had caused affectionless and delinquent behaviour among juvenile thieves