1. Describe psychoanalysis as an explanation of criminality (9 marks)
Sigmund Freud was a psychologist who believed that the best way to understand someone’s behaviour is
to examine their early childhood experiences, and that criminality can be linked to guilty feelings. Freud
believed that our personality was divided into three parts, the id, ego and superego.
The id works on the pleasure principle. It is the most primitive part of our mind as it consists of our basic
and unconscious drives and instincts, which control our selfish and animalistic urges, and is therefore
rooted deep in the unconscious part of our brains. The id is entirely selfish and demands instant
gratification.
The ego works on the reality principle. It is less primitive than the id and tries to be practical and realistic
by seeking rational and sensible control. It develops when we are around 2 years old, and its main role is
to act as a mediator and reduce conflict between the id and superego.
The superego works on the morality principle, and it is what most people think of as our conscience. It
develops when we are around 5 years old and is our internalised sense of right and wrong which develops
from our parent of the same sex as us. It is our moral conscience, and so punished the ego for doing
wrong via feelings of guilt.
To have a healthy personality, there must be balance between all three parts. When these parts have an
unresolved conflict, a disturbed personality becomes apparent which can lead to criminal behaviour, and
this is usually a result of abnormal development of either the id, ego or superego. Individuals who have an
overly dominant id become impulsive, uncontrollable and may even become criminal. This is because
such individuals will act upon their most basic urges with no concern for whether their behaviour is
appropriate, acceptable or legal. These people also tend to have a weak superego, which means they will
have little control over anti-social behaviour and will be more likely to act in ways that gratify the id and
so such individuals have a high level of engagement in risky or impulsive behaviour. People with a deviant
superego are often offenders, as the superego has internalised immoral values. People with a strong
superego are often crippled by guilt and anxiety, driving them to perform criminal acts in order to satisfy
the superego’s overwhelming need for punishment by being caught for the criminal act. These people feel
they need to be punished for the criminal act, even if they only think about committing it.
(Rest on next page)
Sigmund Freud was a psychologist who believed that the best way to understand someone’s behaviour is
to examine their early childhood experiences, and that criminality can be linked to guilty feelings. Freud
believed that our personality was divided into three parts, the id, ego and superego.
The id works on the pleasure principle. It is the most primitive part of our mind as it consists of our basic
and unconscious drives and instincts, which control our selfish and animalistic urges, and is therefore
rooted deep in the unconscious part of our brains. The id is entirely selfish and demands instant
gratification.
The ego works on the reality principle. It is less primitive than the id and tries to be practical and realistic
by seeking rational and sensible control. It develops when we are around 2 years old, and its main role is
to act as a mediator and reduce conflict between the id and superego.
The superego works on the morality principle, and it is what most people think of as our conscience. It
develops when we are around 5 years old and is our internalised sense of right and wrong which develops
from our parent of the same sex as us. It is our moral conscience, and so punished the ego for doing
wrong via feelings of guilt.
To have a healthy personality, there must be balance between all three parts. When these parts have an
unresolved conflict, a disturbed personality becomes apparent which can lead to criminal behaviour, and
this is usually a result of abnormal development of either the id, ego or superego. Individuals who have an
overly dominant id become impulsive, uncontrollable and may even become criminal. This is because
such individuals will act upon their most basic urges with no concern for whether their behaviour is
appropriate, acceptable or legal. These people also tend to have a weak superego, which means they will
have little control over anti-social behaviour and will be more likely to act in ways that gratify the id and
so such individuals have a high level of engagement in risky or impulsive behaviour. People with a deviant
superego are often offenders, as the superego has internalised immoral values. People with a strong
superego are often crippled by guilt and anxiety, driving them to perform criminal acts in order to satisfy
the superego’s overwhelming need for punishment by being caught for the criminal act. These people feel
they need to be punished for the criminal act, even if they only think about committing it.
(Rest on next page)
