Psychological Explanations: Psychodynamic Explanation
The inadequate superego
● The superego is formed at the end of the phallic stage when children resolve the Oedipus or
Electra complex.
● The superego works on the morality principle.
● Ronald Blackburn (1993) argued that if the superego is somehow deficient or inadequate then
criminal behaviour is inevitable because the id is given “free reign” 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 an opportunity for identification. Make criminal
behaviour more likely.
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The inadequate superego
● The superego is formed at the end of the phallic stage when children resolve the Oedipus or
Electra complex.
● The superego works on the morality principle.
● Ronald Blackburn (1993) argued that if the superego is somehow deficient or inadequate then
criminal behaviour is inevitable because the id is given “free reign” 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 an opportunity for identification. Make criminal
behaviour more likely.
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