Cognitive Distortions

Question 1

Define cognitive distortions

Answer 1

Errors or bias in peoples information processing system characterised by faulty thinking

Question 2

What are the 2 types of cognitive distortions

Answer 2

• hostile attribution bias
• minimalistion

Question 3

define hostile attribution bias

Answer 3

the tendency to judge ambiguous situations or the actions of others as aggressive and/or threatening when in reality they may not be

Question 4

explain Schonenberg and Jusyte’s research (2014) into cognitive distortions

Answer 4

presented violent offenders with images of emotionally ambiguous facial expressions when compared with with a non aggressive matched control group

violent offenders = more likely to perceive images and angry and hostile

Question 5

explain Dodge and Frame’s research (1982) into hostile attribution bias

Answer 5

showed children a video clip of an “ambigious provocation” where intention wasn’t hostile or accidental

children who were identified as aggressive prior to the study interpreted the situation as more hostile than those classed as non aggressive

Question 6

Define minimalisation

Answer 6

Type of depletion that involves downplaying significance of an event or an emotion. A common strategy when dealing with feelings of guilt

Question 7

What did Barbarbe 1991 find in their study about cognitive distortions

Answer 7

Amongst 26 incarcerated rapists, 54% denied they had committed an offence at all and a further 40% minimised the harm they had caused to the victim