Psychodynamic explanations of offending
The inadequate superego
You may recall that the superego, alongside the id and the ego, make up the tripartite structure of
personality. The superego is formed at the end of the phallic stage of development when children resolve
the Oedipus complex (sometimes referred to as the Electra complex in girls.
The superego works on the morality principle and exerts its influence by punishing the ego through guilt for
wrongdoing, whilst rewarding it with pride for moral behaviour.
Ronald Blackburn (1993) argued that if the superego is somehow deficient or inadequate then criminal
behaviour is inevitable because the id is given 'free rein' and not properly controlled.
Three types of inadequate superego have been proposed:
1. The weak superego - If the same-sex parent is absent during the phallic stage, the
child cannot internalise a fully-formed superego as there is no opportunity for
identification. This would make immoral or criminal behaviour more likely.
2. The deviant superego - If the superego that the child internalises has immoral or
deviant values this would lead to offending behaviour. For instance, a boy that is
raised by a criminal father is not likely to associate guilt with wrongdoing.
3. The over-harsh superego - A healthy superego is like a kind but firm internal parent
it has rules, but it is also forgiving of transgressions. In contrast, an excessively
punitive or overly harsh superego means the individual is crippled by guilt and
anxiety. This may (unconsciously) drive the individual to perform criminal acts in
order to satisfy the superego's overwhelming need for punishment.
The maternal deprivation theory
John Bowlby (1944) argued that the ability to form meaningful relationships in adulthood was dependent
upon the child forming a warm, continuous relationship with a mother-figure. The maternal bond was seen
by Bowlby as unique, superior to any other, and vital to the child's well-being and development.
Failure to establish such a bond during the first few years of life means the child will experience a number of
damaging and irreversible consequences in later life. One of these is the development of a particular
personality type, known as affectionless psychopathy, characterised by a lack of guilt, empathy and feeling
for others. Such maternally deprived individuals are likely to engage in acts of delinquency and cannot
develop close relationships with others, as they lack the necessary early experience to do so.
44 juvenile thieves John Bowlby (1944) supported his claims with his own investigation of 44 juvenile
thieves. He found, through interviews with the thieves and their families, that 14 of the sample he studied
showed personality and behavioural characteristics that could be classified as 'affectionless psychopathy'.
Of this 14, 12 had experienced prolonged separation from their mothers during infancy (in particular, the
first two years of their lives). In a non-criminal group, only two had experienced similar early separation.
Bowlby concluded that the effects of maternal deprivation had caused affectionless and delinquent
behaviour among the juvenile thieves.
The inadequate superego
You may recall that the superego, alongside the id and the ego, make up the tripartite structure of
personality. The superego is formed at the end of the phallic stage of development when children resolve
the Oedipus complex (sometimes referred to as the Electra complex in girls.
The superego works on the morality principle and exerts its influence by punishing the ego through guilt for
wrongdoing, whilst rewarding it with pride for moral behaviour.
Ronald Blackburn (1993) argued that if the superego is somehow deficient or inadequate then criminal
behaviour is inevitable because the id is given 'free rein' and not properly controlled.
Three types of inadequate superego have been proposed:
1. The weak superego - If the same-sex parent is absent during the phallic stage, the
child cannot internalise a fully-formed superego as there is no opportunity for
identification. This would make immoral or criminal behaviour more likely.
2. The deviant superego - If the superego that the child internalises has immoral or
deviant values this would lead to offending behaviour. For instance, a boy that is
raised by a criminal father is not likely to associate guilt with wrongdoing.
3. The over-harsh superego - A healthy superego is like a kind but firm internal parent
it has rules, but it is also forgiving of transgressions. In contrast, an excessively
punitive or overly harsh superego means the individual is crippled by guilt and
anxiety. This may (unconsciously) drive the individual to perform criminal acts in
order to satisfy the superego's overwhelming need for punishment.
The maternal deprivation theory
John Bowlby (1944) argued that the ability to form meaningful relationships in adulthood was dependent
upon the child forming a warm, continuous relationship with a mother-figure. The maternal bond was seen
by Bowlby as unique, superior to any other, and vital to the child's well-being and development.
Failure to establish such a bond during the first few years of life means the child will experience a number of
damaging and irreversible consequences in later life. One of these is the development of a particular
personality type, known as affectionless psychopathy, characterised by a lack of guilt, empathy and feeling
for others. Such maternally deprived individuals are likely to engage in acts of delinquency and cannot
develop close relationships with others, as they lack the necessary early experience to do so.
44 juvenile thieves John Bowlby (1944) supported his claims with his own investigation of 44 juvenile
thieves. He found, through interviews with the thieves and their families, that 14 of the sample he studied
showed personality and behavioural characteristics that could be classified as 'affectionless psychopathy'.
Of this 14, 12 had experienced prolonged separation from their mothers during infancy (in particular, the
first two years of their lives). In a non-criminal group, only two had experienced similar early separation.
Bowlby concluded that the effects of maternal deprivation had caused affectionless and delinquent
behaviour among the juvenile thieves.
