cognitive explanation of offending

Question 1

What are cognitive distortions?

Answer 1

Patterns of negative or exaggerated thought that can reinforce maladaptive behaviour

Cognitive distortions can lead to mental health problems, such as depression.

Question 2

What is overgeneralisation in cognitive distortions?

Answer 2

A cognitive distortion where a person experiences something negative and presumes it will happen repeatedly

This can reinforce low self-esteem or negative outlooks.

Question 3

What is hostile attribution bias?

Answer 3

The tendency to misinterpret or misread other peoples expressions as aggressive etc

Individuals with high hostile attribution bias see benign actions as hostility directed towards them.

Question 4

How does hostile attribution bias relate to aggressive behaviour?

Answer 4

It increases the likelihood of interpreting benign actions as hostility, leading to anger and aggression

Research shows a link between hostile attribution bias and aggressive crime.

Question 5

What did Eckhart, Barbour, and Davidson (1998) find regarding hostile attribution bias?

Answer 5

Men who committed domestic violence were more likely to display hostile attribution bias than those satisfied with their marriage

This supports the link between hostile attribution bias and aggressive crime.

Question 6

What was concluded in the study by Copello and Tata (1980) about violent offenders?

Answer 6

Adult male violent offenders were more likely to interpret ambiguous sentences as showing hostility than non-violent offenders

This suggests an interpretative bias towards hostility.

Question 7

What is minimisation in the context of cognitive distortions?

Answer 7

A cognitive bias where a person downplays the severity of their circumstances

It can be seen as denial or self-deception.

Question 8

How do offenders use minimisation?

Answer 8

To reduce guilt and shift blame onto the victim

This is part of the process of coping with their actions.

Question 9

What did Kennedy and Grubin (1992) find about convicted sex offenders and minimisation?

Answer 9

The majority tended to blame the victim and a quarter believed the abuse was positive for the victim

This highlights the minimization of their involvement in the crime.