Psychodynamic Theory Infographic

the PSYCHODYNAMIC

ThEORY

SOFIA BRAMBILLA

theory's explanation

This theory was stipulated by the famous psychologist Sigmund Freud, and although it was not created to be applied to crime, this research is still the basis of many criminal behavioral studies today.

The theory has been that every behavior of the human psyche, especially negative behaviors, are caused by unknown forces and thoughts, hidden in everyone's mind.

Based on this, we can define any criminal behavior as a failure of the superego: this lack of mediation therefore leads people to develop traumas and their own negative aspects.

More in depth, the theory starts from the existence of "id", "superego" and "ego". The first is what generates the drives in our mind, which we are all equipped with since childhood, the second would be a sort of regulation of these instincts with the development of our own ethics, and finally the "ego", which develops in adulthood, it should act as a mediator between our instincts and our morals.

Sigmund Freud

“A man should not strive to eliminate his complexes, but to get into accord with them; they are legitimately what directs his conduct in the world."

Sigmund Freud

example

Theory's beliefs

"Something happened in childhood is constantly drawn in person’s mind, frustration, anger , depression , anxiety of childhood shows up in future." Let's say there is a child who goes to school every day, and every day sees his lunch get stolen. When he returns home, he says nothing to his parents. The negative emotions felt by the child at that moment accumulate, and in the future the subject not only demonstrates difficulty in sharing, but becomes violent in protecting his possessions, to the point of inadvertently harming someone.

• Our unconscious influences our behaviors and emotions
• Every behavior has a cause, known or unknown
• Our childhood influences our behaviors as adults
• Childhood trauma affects our personality