Psychological explanations: Psychodynamic
Freud claimed that offending behaviour was linked to early childhood experiences because to understand
people’s behaviour we have to look at their past. Several of Freud’s psychodynamic theories can be used to
explain offending behaviour:
An Inadequate Superego An Inadequate Superego
• Abnormal development of the id, the ego and • The superego is formed at the end of the
the superego during early childhood may lead phallic stage of development when children
to criminality. resolve the Oedipus complex (male) or the
• Blackburn proposed that there are three Electra complex (girls).
different types of superego which lead to • The superego works on the morality
offending behaviour: principle and exerts its influence by
1. A weak superego – often found in those punishing the ego through guilt or
with no same sex parent, as they can’t wrongdoing.
internalise that parent’s moral code. As
such, they would have fewer inhibitions Defence Mechanisms
towards conducting antisocial behaviour,
and would fully respond to their id. • Englander described how displacement
2. A deviant superego – usually found in aggression in offenders might explain their
those whose same sex parent is immoral. antisocial behaviour. If offenders can’t
3. An over-harsh superego – if the person control their aggression, this aggression may
thinks about acting on the id’s desires, leave their unconscious, resulting in
they’ll end up feeling guilty if they have a antisocial and offending behaviour.
strong superego. The individual is then • Most people can repress (keep out of
likely to feel they should be punished to consciousness) and deny their urges (e.g.
relieve their guilt, and so engage in crimes aggression) and keep them at bay; however,
in order to get caught. a triggering incident or stimulus may release
these feelings, resulting in antisocial and
offending behaviour.
Maternal Deprivation Theory
• Bowlby argued that the ability to form meaningful relationships in adulthood was dependent upon the
child forming a warm, continuous relationship with a mother-figure.
• A consequence of not forming this bond can be shown in the development of the personality type:
affectionless psychopathy; this is characterised by a lack of guilt and empathy.
• Such maternally deprived individuals are likely to engage in acts of delinquency and can’t develop close
relationships with others, as they lack the necessary early experience to do so.
Bowlby - 44 juvenile thieves
• 14 of the sample were diagnosed with ‘affectionless psychopathy’.
• 12/14 of these had experienced prolonged separation from their mothers during infancy.
• In a non-criminal group, only 2 had experienced similar earlier separation.
Freud claimed that offending behaviour was linked to early childhood experiences because to understand
people’s behaviour we have to look at their past. Several of Freud’s psychodynamic theories can be used to
explain offending behaviour:
An Inadequate Superego An Inadequate Superego
• Abnormal development of the id, the ego and • The superego is formed at the end of the
the superego during early childhood may lead phallic stage of development when children
to criminality. resolve the Oedipus complex (male) or the
• Blackburn proposed that there are three Electra complex (girls).
different types of superego which lead to • The superego works on the morality
offending behaviour: principle and exerts its influence by
1. A weak superego – often found in those punishing the ego through guilt or
with no same sex parent, as they can’t wrongdoing.
internalise that parent’s moral code. As
such, they would have fewer inhibitions Defence Mechanisms
towards conducting antisocial behaviour,
and would fully respond to their id. • Englander described how displacement
2. A deviant superego – usually found in aggression in offenders might explain their
those whose same sex parent is immoral. antisocial behaviour. If offenders can’t
3. An over-harsh superego – if the person control their aggression, this aggression may
thinks about acting on the id’s desires, leave their unconscious, resulting in
they’ll end up feeling guilty if they have a antisocial and offending behaviour.
strong superego. The individual is then • Most people can repress (keep out of
likely to feel they should be punished to consciousness) and deny their urges (e.g.
relieve their guilt, and so engage in crimes aggression) and keep them at bay; however,
in order to get caught. a triggering incident or stimulus may release
these feelings, resulting in antisocial and
offending behaviour.
Maternal Deprivation Theory
• Bowlby argued that the ability to form meaningful relationships in adulthood was dependent upon the
child forming a warm, continuous relationship with a mother-figure.
• A consequence of not forming this bond can be shown in the development of the personality type:
affectionless psychopathy; this is characterised by a lack of guilt and empathy.
• Such maternally deprived individuals are likely to engage in acts of delinquency and can’t develop close
relationships with others, as they lack the necessary early experience to do so.
Bowlby - 44 juvenile thieves
• 14 of the sample were diagnosed with ‘affectionless psychopathy’.
• 12/14 of these had experienced prolonged separation from their mothers during infancy.
• In a non-criminal group, only 2 had experienced similar earlier separation.
