Assumption 1: Behaviour is influenced by the unconscious mind

• We have an unconscious mind which influences our behaviour

• We are unaware of our unconscious

• The unconscious mind contains socially unacceptable ideas, wishes or desires, traumatic memories, and painful emotions – which we have repressed

The Psychoanalytic Approach

• Sigmund Freud – 19th Century/early 20th

Assumption 1: Behaviour is influenced by the unconscious mind

• Freudian slip– You say something which accidentally

reveals your unconscious desire. Can often be sexual or violent

– “Let’s get some eggs from the shop” becomes “Lets get some sex from the shop”

– “When I see him I will thank him” becomes “When I see him I will hit him”

• Can you think of an example of when this has happened to you?

Assumption 1: Behaviour is influenced by the unconscious mind

• Other ways of accessing the unconscious

– Dream analysis– Rorschach inkblot test–Word association

• Have a go at word association • Rorschach inkblot test

1

2

3

4

5

6

Assumption 2: Different levels of consciousness

• The mind is like an iceberg

• Conscious: what we are aware of

• Preconscious: what we could be conscious of if we turned our attention

• Unconscious: inaccessible

Assumption 3: The Tripartite Model of Personality

• We do not have one unified personality, but 3 different parts

• They pull us in different directions.– “I really need to study,

but I want to go to a party with my friends”.

• ID• EGO• SUPEREGO

Assumption 4: Ego defence mechanisms

• How the ego protects itself from unconscious thoughts and feelings

• Can push a desire out of consciousness, or transfer it to something else. – Repression– Displacement– Projection

Assumption 5: Early childhood experiences and relationships

• Events in childhood shape our adult personality

• Traumatic events can be repressed and cause stress later in life

Relationships with parents set template for adult relationships

Describe some ways that adult personality may be shaped by your childhood.

Freud’s Psychoanalytic TheoryBarriers to Development

Extreme neglect and abuse

Extreme permissiveness or unconditional warmth

No warmth or affection

Psychoanalytic types of Offenders

• Weak superego type• Weak ego type• Normal antisocial offender• Neurotic offender• Other– Psychotic– Developmentally delayed– Situational offender– Substance abuse, intoxication– Accidental offender

Weak Superego type

• Reckless disregard for conventional rules• Antisocial Cognitions• Weak conventional ambitions– Lack of ego-ideal

• Conduct problems• Conflict with authority figures• Separateness from others

Weak Ego Type

• Immaturity• Poorly developed social skills• Poor reality testing• Excessive dependence• Following the leader• Stumbling into criminal activities

“Normal” Antisocial Offender

• Identification with criminal parent• Superego is procriminal

Neurotic Offender

• Unconscious desire to be punished• Overactive superego