Superego Lacunae: Holes in the Conscience

Louis R. Franzini, PhD

$14.00

CE Credit Hours : 1

Target Audience : Counseling, Marriage & Family Therapy, Psychology, School Psychology, Social Work

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Customer Testimonials

Course Abstract

Superego Lacunae: Holes in the Conscience is a 1-hour online continuing education (CE) course that explores the frequently unfamiliar concept of superego lacunae, also known as gaps or holes in certain individuals’ consciences.

Superego lacunae was first described by physicians Adelaide M. Johnson (1949) and Johnson & S. A. Szurek (1952). Their theorizing of superego lacunae began as a way to understand the acting out of children who featured a defect in their internal controls in specific areas of their behavior, rather than a generalized weakness of their entire superego.

Superego lacunae has since been considerably expanded to include behaviors by individuals of any age. The essential idea is that there are problematic behaviors that are extremely inconsistent with a person’s overwhelmingly strong senses of morality and appropriate behaviors. Such individuals are often considered pillars of society, admirable leaders, great friends and relatives, and appealing choices for spouses. Yet, they occasionally, intentionally, do things which are wildly different from all expectations. Their misdeeds are deliberate and not accidents. This course examines the theories behind the concept and explores various treatment considerations.

Course #11-46 | 2022 | 18 pages | 10 posttest questions

Learning Objectives

Name the fundamental characteristics of the phenomenon of superego lacunae
Identify the prevailing psychodynamic theoretical explanations for the development of superego lacunae
List presumptive causes of superego lacunae from the perspective of behavioral theory
Identify three issues to be brought into play in considering treatment of superego lacunae

Course Directions

This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. The course is text-based (reading) and the CE test is open-book (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course document).

Successful completion of this course involves passing an online test (80% required, 3 chances to take) and we ask that you also complete a brief course evaluation.

About the Author(s)

Louis R. Franzini, PhD : Find out More

Louis R. Franzini, PhD, received his B.S. degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, his M.A. degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Toledo, and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. He then completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Behavior Modification at the State University of New York at Stony Brook (now Stony Brook University). Following the postdoctoral program Dr. Franzini joined the Psychology Department at San Diego State University, where he spent his entire academic career. He retired as Emeritus Professor of Psychology. His international academic experience included appointments as Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the Universite Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-le-Neuve, Belgium and Senior Fellow in the School of Accountancy and Business, Human Resource and Quality Management Division at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Dr. Franzini is licensed as a psychologist in Florida and in California.

Financial: Dr. Franzini receives royalties on his books from John Wiley & Sons, Rowman and Littlefield, Square One Publishers, Sage Publications and from Professional Development Resources on sales of his courses.
Nonfinancial: No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

CE Information

Counseling

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Approved Continuing Education Provider

Professional Development Resources (PDR) has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5590. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. PDR is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135 - Note: New York counselors will receive 1 continuing education credits for completing this self-study course).

Marriage and Family Therapy

American Psychological Association Approved Sponsor

Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB #1046, ACE Program); the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100 - Note: New York MFTs will receive 1 continuing education credit(s) for completing this self-study course); the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114); and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion).

Psychology

School Psychology

Social Work

Professional Development Resources, #1046, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 6/12/2022 - 6/12/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 1 general continuing education credits.

Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664 - Note: New York social workers will receive 1 continuing education credit(s) for completing this self-study course). Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678).

Customer Testimonials

C.G. (SW)

A very complicated but interesting topic and I definitely learned something.

M.W. (MHC)

Very informative material that comes into play with many clients I have and do work with.

K.M. (PY)

Very interesting topic that is not typically addressed even within psychodynamic training.

Course Abstract

Learning Objectives

Course Directions