Cognitive Distortions^ Flashcards
Cognitive Distortions
Errors or biases people make when processing info by ‘faulty thinking’
Common in infrequent beh (surrounded by inaccurate schemas)
CD explain why criminals justify their beh
- Misinterpret the actions of those around them
Hostile Attribution Bias
Wrongly assume others are being confrontational
O misread non-aggressive cues as a threat = cause a violent response
Schonenberg & Jusyte
- Showed violent O and no-aggressive matched CG pics of ambiguous expressions
- Violent offenders were more likely to perceive the photo as hostile than the CG
Minimalisation
Bandura
- Euphemistic label
- Downplaying the seriousness of an offence or providing a justification for it
Barbaree
- Study 26 incarcerated rapists
- Sexual O are more likely to use M
- 54% denied committing the crime
- 40% minimised the harm cause to the V
Real World Application
CD as an explanation can be applied to therapy (CBT)
Harkins et al
- Reduced denial/ M in therapy was linked to a decreased chance of re-offending
O are taught to admit their crimes and challenge their irrational thinking
Shows practical value of CD
Type Of Offences
Level of CD depends on the type of offence committed
Howitt & Sheldon
- Collected questionnaire responses from diff type of sexual offenders
- Non-contact SO used more CD than contract SO
- Those with history of offending were more likely to use CD to justify actions
CD can’t be applied to all criminals in the same way
Descriptive or Explanatory
CD hold value as they are good at describing the criminal mind
Helped reduce the chances of re-offending
But they may only be a description rather than an explanation for criminal beh
Others also experience CD but don’t become offenders
