1. Forensic Psychology
Psychodynamic Explanations
Of Offending

2. Review: Poster
Race
1. Entitle your poster: “Physiological’ and “Biological” Explanations [Draw a line down
the middle of the paper]
2. Draw a typical ‘criminal man’, labelling two distinctive characteristics.
3. What types of illnesses did Lombroso link the atavistic form to?
4. Name a confounding factor that might affect criminality & particular facial
characteristics.
5. What does “somatotype” mean?
6. Draw an “ectomorph” body type.
7. Draw the body type most associated with criminal tendencies.
8. Draw a picture to represent where Sheldon (1949) got his data from?
9. What prophecy perhaps better explains the link between body type & criminality?
10. Name another biological factor that can affect body shape?
11.What concordance rate did Grove et al. (1990) find in their twin study
for the heritability of criminality?
12. What was particularly distinct about Grove’s (1990) twin study?
13. What atypical chromosome pattern was suggested by Jacob’s et al. (1965)?
14. What behavioural disorder has been linked in neurophysiology studies?
15.Name the hypothesis Hare (1970) proposed linked to APD.
16. Name two key psychological debates the biological explanation brings up.
Task: Write the answers to the questions highlighted into your notes

3. Last Lesson:
Newspaper Headline Winners
AND

4. Lesson Objective
• To be able to critically discuss psychodynamic
theories of offending.
All should be able to describe two psychodynamic theories of offending (A01)
Most should be able to critically discuss at least two psychodynamic theories of
offending, using relevant terminology and evidence. (A01 & A02)
Some should be able to critically discuss at least two psychodynamic theories of
offending, making comparisons to alternative approaches & key psychological
debates. (A01 & A02 + A02)

5. Start:
What do you already know?
Task: In pairs, work out what each of the keywords below are and
write a sentence linking it to offending behaviour.
1. Str**t**e of Per*****li*y
2. I*
3. Ma***n** D*pri***ion
4. *4 T*iev**
5. D*f*n*e M*cha***m*
Extension: See if you can link all the words together in one summary paragraph.

6. Class Tasks Brief
• In your pairs choose two activities from A-
D to complete. This will help you meet the
LO of being able to describe two
psychodynamic theories of offending. Be
prepared to present your activity to the
class. You could be picked at random!
• At the end, the whole class will evaluate
the theory.

7. Three TheoriesThree Theories
1.1. Inadequate SuperegoInadequate Superego
• Weak Superego
• Deviant Superego
• Over-harsh Superego
1.1. Defence MechanismsDefence Mechanisms
• Denial
• Rationalisation
• Displacement
• Sublimation
1.1. Maternal DeprivationMaternal Deprivation
• Bowlby’s 44 Theives - pg.16
• Harlow’s Monkeys
TaskTask: In your groups
Create a 2-3 minute role play
demonstrating how one of the
psychodynamic theories
explains offending behaviour.
You must write the script that
accompanies it.
(If you wish you may illustrate
the concepts within
A psychoanalysis session or
“interview with Freud or a
police interview”)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mkin1FhojCo
Structure of Personality: Watch until 2.5mins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEvJ9FTn0SA
Psychoanalysis: Watch until 1.5mins
(Task A)
(defence
mechanisms
only)

8. Aim: To explain how the structure of personality can be
used to explain offending behaviour.
Task:
In pairs complete the ‘Structure of Personality’
Worksheet. Refer to pg 226 to make the link to
offending behaviour. Write between 50-100 words (no
more) explaining the link. Create a presentation to
inform the class.
Structure of Personality (review)Structure of Personality (review)
Task B

9. Theories of Offending:
Psychodynamic
Maternal deprivation
• Developed by John Bowlby this theory bases itself on the theory of attachments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?index=16&playnext=1&v=8ljZ4a8Uc8Q&list=PLC08A7DD8AEB4B3EF
Task: Watch the video:
Answer the questions below..
1. Where does Bowlby feel the origins of mental health lie?
2. Name three influences on Bowlby’s work.
• It states that within the first 2 years of a child’s life (the critical period), if the child is
deprived of a continuous and loving relationship it could have damaging and irreversible
consequences
• Common effects of maternal deprivation include affectionless psychopathy and below
average IQ
• Bowlby’s theory is supported by his own study (44 thieves)
• Extremely influential.

10. Evidence: Harlow’s Monkey’s
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=OrNBEhzjg8I
Aim: To describe the study in your own words to the class
verbally or via presentation . Explain how it supports
maternal deprivation.
• Describe the two ‘mothers’
• What did Harlow find that they were ‘completely
unprepared for”?
• Write down one ethical and one methodological
criticism with this study.
Note: Refer to pg. 12 for details of study.
Task C

11. Aim: To describe the study to the class using your
drawing for as a cue to what you will say.
TASK: Refer to pg. 16-17. Draw a picture to
represent the study. The only annotation you
can use on your drawing are numbers and a
maximum of 15 words.
Evidence: Bowlby’s 44 Thieves
Task D

12. Evaluation (A02)
Task (1) In your groups discuss how the following words can be used to evaluate the
psychodynamic explanations of offending behaviour. You have 10 minutes. You must
all be able to define each word and discuss them.
• Falsifiablity
• Contradictory Findings (Hint: focus on crime statistics for each
gender & phenomenon of single-parent households)
• Retrospective
• Causality
• Controversial
• Scientific
• Psychic determinism vs. free will* [For help here; refer to pg. 335 of Pennington &
McLoughlin]
• Alternative Explanations*
Task (2) Individually, write an answer to the following question “Briefly discuss one
limitation of psychodynamic explanations of crime” (4 marks)
Extension: Find an example of criminal behaviour in the newspaper. Use psychodynamic
Theory to explain the behaviour. Present your response in a case-report.
Whole
Class
Task

13. Review:
“Question Stations”
Task: In pairs, you will have 1 minute at each question. Note your ideas down
and move round to the right when the timer sounds.
1. “Explain two ways in which psychoanalytic theory might be used to explain
offending behaviour” (4 marks) January 2007
2. “Outline what is meant by atavistic form in relation to offending” (2
marks) January 2011
3. “Outline what is meant by somatotype theory in relation to offending” (2
marks) January 2011
4. “Briefly discuss how Lombroso’s and Sheldon’s theories might have
influence modern day views about offending behaviour” (4 marks) January 2011