Final answer:
According to psychoanalytic theory, the cause of crime focuses on the role of unconscious desires and conflicts. This theory suggests that criminal behavior stems from inner conflicts and unresolved psychological issues, involving the interaction of id, ego, and superego within the psyche.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is true about the causes of crime according to psychoanalytic theory? The correct answer is b) It focuses on the role of unconscious desires and conflicts. Psychoanalytic theory, developed by Sigmund Freud, posits that our behavior, including criminal actions, can be understood by examining the unseen forces that shape our personality and actions. Freud believed that individuals have repressed memories and unconscious drives, influenced by sex and aggression, which exist beneath the conscious surface of our thoughts.
Within psychoanalytic theory, criminal behavior is linked to inner conflicts and unresolved psychological issues that stem from early childhood experiences. The id, ego, and superego are the three interacting systems within our minds that influence our behavior, according to Freud. The id seeks immediate gratification, the superego aims to abide by societal norms and morals, and the ego mediates between the demands of the id, the superego, and reality. Criminal conduct, from a psychoanalytic viewpoint, can be seen as a manifestation of the imbalance in these aspects of the psyche, often due to unresolved unconscious conflicts.