Cognitive explanation: Kohlberg and cognitive distortions

Question 1

Outline moral reasoning as suggested by Kohlberg.

Answer 1

Kohlberg used moral dilemmas such as ‘The Heinz Dilemma’ to investigate moral reasoning. Moral reasoning refers to the way a person thinks about right and wrong. The higher the stage – the more sophisticated the reasoning.

Non-criminals tend to reason at higher levels and empathize with the rights of others, exhibiting honesty, generosity and non-violence.

Offenders have a lower level of moral reasoning, are more likely to have childlike reasoning and be classified at the pre-conventional level
They seek to avoid punishment (commit crimes if they can get away with it) and gain rewards (e.g., financial or more respect)

Question 2

Outline cognitive distortions.

Answer 2

Cognitive distortions are faulty thinking which can affect how individuals perceive themselves and others:
- Hostile attribution bias:
the extent to which an individual perceives the actions of others as confrontational. The person is then more likely to become angry, making them more likely to be aggressive and therefore more likely to engage in criminal behavior. e.g. Schonenberg and Justye - 55 violent offenders were presented with images of emotionally ambiguous facial expressions. When compared with a control group, the offenders were significantly more likely to perceive the images as confrontational.

e.g. Dodge and Frame - Children were shown an ‘ambiguous provocation. Children who had been judged as aggressive before the study, were more likely to perceive the situation as hostile.

• Minimisation:
  Denying or downplaying the seriousness of an offence. ‘Euphemistic labelling’. “I stole form the store as they could afford it” E.g. Barbaree - studied 26 convicted rapists, 54% denied they had committed an offence at all. 40% minimized the harm that they had caused the victim.

E.g. Pollock and Hashmall - studied child molesters. 35% said that the crime they committed was non-sexual. 36% said that the victims had consented

Question 3

Evaluate.

Answer 3

+ Research support – moral reasoning - Palmer and Hollin used moral dilemmas to compare moral reasoning in 332 non-offenders and 126 convicted criminals and found less mature moral reasoning in the offenders.

• Level of moral reasoning depends on type of offence - Thornton and Reid found those who commit crimes involving financial gain such as robbery were more likely to show pre-conventional moral reasoning, compared to those who commit violent crimes such as assault.

+ Real world applications (cognitive distortions) - Cognitive behavioural therapy can be used to challenge the thoughts of offenders and has shown to reduce denial and minimisation which can be effective in helping to reduce reoffending

• Cognitive distortions depend on type of offence - Howitt and Sheldon found non-contact sexual offenders (e.g. internet) had more cognitive distortions than contact sexual offenders