Psychodynamic Theory

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Introduction Psychodynamic theory or otherwise known as psychoanalytic theory is a psychological theory. One of the principles of this theory deals with the morals of an individual. This entails what an individual believes is right and wrong. With this in mind this theory seems suitable to be subjected to a theory critique through the lens of criminology. Analyzing the theory more and critiquing certain aspects of this psychological theory can make it pertain to why crimes are committed and therefore be used as a criminological theory as well. Due to the theory being seen as a psychological theory the theorist had to address a new foundation for the theory to be applied to crime. Based upon how the theory was already constructed to detail…show more content…
This pertained to the idea of the development of the id, the ego, and the superego. Before the illustration of the changes to the theory to make it more compatible with researching and theorizing why crime is committed, the underline components of the structural model need to be addressed. Freud believed that the first component of the structural model was the id. He described the id as having the function of releasing tension within the body. Tension in the body resulted from the need or desire of a specific function within the body. This function could be seen as sleep, hunger, and excreta. Tension would become discomfort for the individual until the id released the tension within the body. Release of tension from the id refers to the pleasure principle, which can only be accomplished within the id (Hall…show more content…
Morals in the superego were discussed as being reinforced behavior from parental figures that contributed to one’s belief of right or wrongs. Taking this into account it can be seen that morals across individuals are different and therefore what could be seen as right to one person might be seen as wrong for another. To define this better, morals that are seen as socially acceptable and law abiding will be called societal norms. Norms that are not socially acceptable, but are still learned from parental figures can then be labeled as environmental norms. Looking at the superego in this framework questions how one defines

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