5.7 Psychological Explanations Of Offending Behaviour: Cognitive Flashcards
What is cognitive distortion?
Irrational thinking
- has a bias so what is perceived by the person doesn’t match reality
What is hostile attribution bias?
Someone automatically assumes someone else has malicious intent
In terms of criminality what is hostile attribution linked to?
Increased levels of aggression
What is minimalistion?
Underplaying the consequence of an action to reduce guilty feelings
What is moral reasoning?
consistent logical thinking about right and wrong
What are kholbergs levels of moral reasoning?
- pre-conventional level
- conventional level
- post-conventional level
According to Colby et al what percentage of adults reached post-conventional morality level? Why would they commit crime?
10%
- for a matter of principle
What are most criminals level of moral reasoning? Why would they commit crime?
pre-conventional level
- if rewards outweigh costs
What is research support for hostile attribution bias?
A study found that violent criminals are more likely to interpret faces as aggressive compared to control groups
What is research support for minimalisation?
Sexual offenders found to downplay their roles
What are real world applications using cognitive distortions?
CBT can reduce judgement and decision-making errors in offenders, in one study 44% reduction in arrests
What is research support for levels of moral reasoning?
juvenile offenders assessed at level 1
offenders with more advanced reasoning less likely to commit violent crimes
What are critcisms of kholbergs theory?
- moral principles used to justify behaviour not cause it (Krebs and Denton)
- theory based on male perspective (male samples used) (Gilligan)
