3.1.2 Individual differences exp. 1: Cognitive Factors Flashcards
What are the 3 studies?
- Faulty Processing Model-
Yochelson & Samenow (1976) - Cognitive Distortions –
Gibbs & Potter (1995) supporting evidence-Wallinius (2011) - Judgements of right and wrong –
Kohlberg (1968)
Faulty Processing Model- Yochelson & Samenow (1976)
Psychiatrists who worked in mental hospitals.
255 participants
Longitudinal study- 14 year period, only 30
participants took part in all of the
interviews.
half ptps pleased NGRI
used Freudian therapy to study the changes
in cognition over the years.
Found there were 52 ‘errors’ in thinking.
It was claimed that such faulty thinking is not
unique to criminals.
What are cognitive distortions?
A cognitive distortion are faulty,
biased and irrational ways of thinking
that mean we perceive ourselves,
other people and the world
inaccurately and usually negatively.
Gibbs and Potter (1995)
- introduced a four- category model of self-serving cognitive distortions
what does the four- category model of self-serving cognitive distortions include
- self-centred
- blaming others
- minimising
- assuming the worst
category #1 - Self- centred
when the individual focuses on his/her own opinions and needs to such an extent that the opinions or needs of others are hardly ever considered or respected
category #2 - Blaming others
involves misattributing the blame for one’s own behaviour to external sources
category #3 - Minimising
when the antisocial behaviour is seen as an acceptable way to achieve goals, the seriousness of the behaviour is overlooked
category #4 - Assuming the worst
represents distortions where the individual makes hostile attributions, considers the worst case scenario as inevitable or sees their own behaviour as beyond improvement
Wallinius (2011)
conducted research to investigate if there were individual differences between offenders and non-offenders in relation to cognitive distortions
Wallinius (2011) sample
- sample of 116 participants split into two subgroups: one group of male prison inmates and one group of male university students.
- inmates had a mean age of 36.8 years whilst the students had a mean age of 20.4 years
- adolescent sample of 248 male participants also included two subgroups, one group of incarcerated adolescents and the other group were primary or secondary students
Wallinius (2011) Methodology
Participants were instructed to complete the HIT questionnaire (How I Think)
This is a 54-item questionnaire designed to measure self-serving cognitive distortions
Participants responded on a six-point Likert scale- ‘agree strongly’ to ‘disagree strongly’
example of questions:
1. Rules are mostly meant for other people.
2. If I really want to do something, I don’t care if
it’s legal or not.
Wallinius (2011) Findings
found that offenders had more cognitive distortions compared to non-offenders
- thus supporting that there may be some link between cognitive distortions and criminal behaviour
What is Hostile Attribution Bias (HAB)
- a distortion in the way that people interpret events and it occurs when people lean towards thinking the worst about what other people are doing and thinking.
HAB further explained
- people with HAB have a tendency to judge ambiguous situations/actions as aggressive and/or threatening, when in reality they may not be
- can lead to more aggressive behaviour
Supporting HAB evidence:
(Schonenberg & Justye, 2014)
violent offenders are more likely to interpret an emotionally ambiguous face as hostile and aggressive
Kohlberg (1968)
conducted a longitudinal study over a
period of 12 years.
testing moral reasoning - he gave 75 young American males a series of hypothetical and philosophical moral dilemmas in
the form of short stories
The participants were aged 10-16 years old at the
start of the study and were aged 22-28 by the end.
where were Kolbergs participants from
- compared the males from the USA to those
from Canada, the UK, Mexico, Turkey and Taiwan.
Give 2 examples of the moral dilemmas included:
For 10 year olds:
“Is it better to save the life of one important person or a lot of unimportant people?”
For 13, 16, 20 and 24 year olds :
“Should the doctor ‘mercy kill’ a fatally ill woman requesting death because of her pain?”
Kohlberg findings
Cognitive distortions, especially self-centred
distortions could be explained due to a low
level of moral reasoning.
Kohlberg developed a theory of moral
reasoning, identifying key levels of moral
reasoning that could be used to help explain
criminal behaviour.
Pre-conventional level (kholberg)
Children accept the rules of authority figures and
judge actions by their consequences. Actions that
result in punishments are bad, those that bring
rewards are good.
criminal explanation:
Breaking the law is justified if the rewards outweigh the costs
Conventional level (kohlberg)
Individuals continue to believe that conformity to
social rules is desirable, but this is not out of
self-interest. Maintaining the current social system ensures positive human relationships and social order.
criminal explanation:
May break the law to protect a family member or other people.
Post - conventional level (kolbherg)
The realisation that some laws can be changed and some values are relative. Moral behaviour is guided by the principle of trying to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Cornish and Clark (1987)
- suggest that criminal behaviour can be understood as a rational thinking process. The criminal will have reasoned and thought about whether their crime is worth committing (Rewards v Costs)
Cost-Benefit Analysis - support positives
Bennett and Wright (1984)
* Interviewed convicted burglars
- Found that financial reward/ease of access
were the most influential factors (rewards) - Concluded that the decision to commit a crime
is a rational one.
Cost-Benefit Analysis - support negatives
- Admitted that answers were affected by social desirability bias
- Participants were ‘convicted’ burglars therefore they were caught! Did they really think it through?
- Can only be generalised to burglary not serious crimes- impulsive
- Most criminals are under the influence of drugs or alcohol- no rational thinking
