AC 2.2- individualistic theories- cognitive theories

Question 1

yochelson and samenow- criminal cognition
general point

Answer 1

-studied whether a criminal’s cognition difffers to that of non-criminals

Question 2

yochelson and samenow- criminal cognition
study procedure (3)

Answer 2

-longitudinal study (14 years) of 255 males determine criminality + thinking patterns
-some were convicted criminals, some were institutionalised
-used interviews based on psychoanalytical approaches to identify thinking errors present in the thought processes of criminals- identified 52 common thinking errors

Question 3

yochelson and samenow- criminal cognition
study findings (3)

Answer 3

-criminals often have thinking errors+biases (lying, secretive, god complex)
-have errors in decision making (victim-blaming, lacking time perspective)
-criminals have a distorted self image+deny responsibility for their actions

Question 4

yochelson and samenow- criminal cognition
study conclusions (2)

Answer 4

-criminals are in complete control of thinking+decisions
-criminality is the result of choices made by the individual- they show criminal thinking patterns

Question 5

kohlberg- theory of moral development
general point

Answer 5

-used stories+questions to see how moral reasoning changed as people aged

Question 6

kohlberg- theory of moral development
study procedure (2)

Answer 6

-asked moral dilemmas to children of different ages- interested in the reasons given for decisions being made, rather than whether the judgement was right/wrong
-sample of 10-16 year old boys- were followed up over 20 years at 3-year intervals

Question 7

kohlberg- theory of moral development
stages of moral development- pre-conventional (4)

Answer 7

-simplistic way of thinking- only see right/wrong
-moral reasoning based on reward/punishment
-most criminals dont develop thinking past this

Question 8

kohlberg- theory of moral development
stages of moral development- conventional (2)

Answer 8

-moral reasoning based on external ethics
-eg. law and order morality

Question 9

kohlberg- theory of moral development
stages of moral development- post-conventional

Answer 9

-moral reasoning based on personal ethics

Question 10

evaluation- yochelson and samenow
strength

Answer 10

successful treatments (CBT) developed based on idea that criminals’ thought processes can be corrected with treatment

Question 11

evaluation- yochelson and samenow
2 limitations

Answer 11

-no control group of non criminals to see if normal people also make same thinking errors
-unrepresentative sample- no women, most men in sample were insane- claimed all offenders share same thinking errors as the sample

Question 12

evaluation- kohlberg
2 strengths

Answer 12

-study support to show delinquents are more likely to have immature moral development
-study support that theory is truer for crimes involving reasoning (theft) than violent crimes, which are often impulsive

Question 13

evaluation- kohlberg
limitation

Answer 13

focuses on moral thinking rather than moral behaviour. people can be capable of thinking morally whilst acting immorally