WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Criminology sample

UNIT 2 CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES Psychodynamic theories Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud believed the best way to understand behaviour is to examine early childhood experiences and that criminality was linked to guilt. He suggested that much of our mind was in an unconscious region, similar to an iceberg where only the tip can be seen. It is our unconscious mind that controls behaviour, including criminality. Freud developed a structure of the mind or psyche containing our personality divided into three parts: • the id , which controls our selfish and animalistic urges • the ego , which seeks rational and sensible control • the superego being our moral conscience. The id wants instant gratification and represents our basic needs. It is the most primitive part of our personality and is found in the deep unconscious part of the brain. The id would tell you to ignore your homework and go to the party instead. The superego is what people think of as our conscience. Concerned with social rules and morals it tells us what is right and wrong. It would tell you to stay home and complete all your homework as that is more important than going to a party. The ego is less primitive than the id and tries to be practical and realistic. Acting as a mediator between the id and the superego it would suggest you spend some time completing your homework and then go to the party. It is in the partly conscious and partly unconscious mind. Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Freud’s theory of personality 100