Class notes
Psychology of Evil Test #2
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Notes for test number 2 in the course Psychology of Evil. These notes have an emphasis on psychopaths/sociopaths and psychological pathways.
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Test NotesPsychological Pathways to Evil
- Psychological theories of crime
o Psychodynamic Theory
o Mental Illness
o Behavioural Theory
o Cognitive Theory
- Child abuse
Introduction
- The media is filled everyday with coverage of violence and chaos. Have you ever
wondered what makes people behave the way they do?
- We’ve examined some biological factors that can create the potential for
evil…today we will discuss some of the catalysts and psychological factors that
influence the likelihood of expressions of evil
- 3 major theories
o Psychodynamic, Behavioural, and Cognitive
- Also relevant to psychological theories are the influence of personality,
intelligence, and mental illness
- We will also discuss child abuse, and the impact on attachment and learning
Psychodynamic Theory
- Freud’s early work treating patients with conversion hysteria convinced him that
the symptoms were related to painful feeling and memories, that seemed have
been pushed out of consciousness or repressed
- He noted that when patients were able to re-experience these traumatic
memories (often sexual or aggressive in nature), that their physical symptoms
improved significantly
o Conclusion – The unconscious part of the mind has great influence over
behaviour
- He theorized that there are 3 structures that make up human personality
o The id
o The ego
o The superego
ID
- Totally unconscious part of the mind; the inner core of personality
- The primitive part of a person’s mind that is present at birth
- Freud (1933) believed the ID represents the unconscious biological drives for
food, sex, and basic necessities over the life span
- Most important is the idea that the ID is concerned with instant pleasure or
gratification while disregarding concern for others. This is known as the pleasure
principle, and it is often paramount when discussing criminal behavior. “Want”
“Take”
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, - All too often, one sees new stories and studies about criminal offenders who
have no concern for anyone but themselves. Is it possible that these male and
female offenders are driven by instant gratification?
EGO
- The ego functions primarily at the conscious level, and is thought to develop very
early in a person’s life (early childhood experiences)
- Freud (1933) suggested that the ego compensates for the demands of the ID by
guiding an individual’s actions or behaviours to keep him or her within the
boundaries of society. The ego is guided by the reality principle.
o What stops us from taking what we want
Superego
- The third element of personality, the superego, develops as a person
incorporates the moral standards and values of the community, parents, and
significant others, such as friends and family
- Repository for morality
- Ideals facilitated by parents and internalized as child – what is “right” and what is
“wrong” and how one “should” behave
- The superego serves to pass judgment on the behaviour and actions of
individuals (Freud, 1933)
- One can assume that young adults as well as adults understand right from
wrong. However, when crime is committed advocates of psychodynamic theory
would suggest that an individual committed a crime because he or she has an
underdeveloped superego
- In sum, psychodynamic theory suggests that criminal offenders are frustrated
and aggravated
- They may be drawn to events that occurred in their early childhood; a negligent,
unhappy childhood characterized by a lack of love and/or nurturing a criminal
offender has a weak ego
- Importantly research suggests that have a weak ego is linked with poor social
etiquette, immaturity, and dependence on others
- Research further suggests that individuals with weak egos may be more likely to
engage in substance abuse
Mental Illness
- Psychodynamic theorists helped us to understand that abnormal functioning may
be rooted in the same process as normal functioning
o Seek explanations outside of biological influence
- Within the psychodynamic theory of crime we may find mood disorders and
mental illness
- Criminal offenders may have a number of personality and mood disturbances
that can be expressed as depression, rage, narcissism, and social isolation
- The most serious disturbances may result in psychological disorders
- In society today, mental illness and violence are often seen as linked
creating a harsh stigma
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