Sample Undergraduate Psychology Essay
SAMPLE UNDERGRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY ESSAY
NB This is not a perfect essay. It was graded at 60% (A 2.1) and the bibliography is missing!
Drawing on Freudian and Attachment Theories assess the Relationship between early year's experiences and criminality.
Psychological theories have attempted to explain the reasons for and how criminality occurs. The psychoanalytic perspective involves two major theories - Freud's theory of the Sexual Stages of Development and the Theory of Attachment purposed by Bowlby (1947). These theories conclude that there is an association between the formation of personality in childhood and that of future criminal behaviour. The Freudian theory of development suggests that we go through several stages of development - these stages are motivated by one's sexual desires. These desires are unconscious elements - controlled by internal forces - which Freud claims are the id, ego and superego.
The id represents the individual's impulsive desires which are regulated by the superego. The ego acts out the socially desirable behaviour. The id works in keeping with the pleasure principle, which can be understood as a demand to take care of needs immediately (e.g. this could relate to the behaviour of stealing). These demands are innocently explored through childhood - through the four stages of sexual development. Freudian theory believes that criminality is influenced by mental disturbances -which have aroused by a conflict between the id, ego and superego, or it may be the result of improper fixations during one of the stages of development. This mental disturbance often displays itself in the form of behavioural disorders such as social aggression or passiveness.
Therefore Freud would argue that criminality is caused by a difficulty that has not been overcome during childhood. The adult individual displaying the criminal behaviour has developed a defective personality, based upon conflict, impulsiveness and aggression. Freudian theorist believe
NB This is not a perfect essay. It was graded at 60% (A 2.1) and the bibliography is missing!
Drawing on Freudian and Attachment Theories assess the Relationship between early year's experiences and criminality.
Psychological theories have attempted to explain the reasons for and how criminality occurs. The psychoanalytic perspective involves two major theories - Freud's theory of the Sexual Stages of Development and the Theory of Attachment purposed by Bowlby (1947). These theories conclude that there is an association between the formation of personality in childhood and that of future criminal behaviour. The Freudian theory of development suggests that we go through several stages of development - these stages are motivated by one's sexual desires. These desires are unconscious elements - controlled by internal forces - which Freud claims are the id, ego and superego.
The id represents the individual's impulsive desires which are regulated by the superego. The ego acts out the socially desirable behaviour. The id works in keeping with the pleasure principle, which can be understood as a demand to take care of needs immediately (e.g. this could relate to the behaviour of stealing). These demands are innocently explored through childhood - through the four stages of sexual development. Freudian theory believes that criminality is influenced by mental disturbances -which have aroused by a conflict between the id, ego and superego, or it may be the result of improper fixations during one of the stages of development. This mental disturbance often displays itself in the form of behavioural disorders such as social aggression or passiveness.
Therefore Freud would argue that criminality is caused by a difficulty that has not been overcome during childhood. The adult individual displaying the criminal behaviour has developed a defective personality, based upon conflict, impulsiveness and aggression. Freudian theorist believe