Cognitive explanations

Question 1

What are the two Cognitive explanations of offending

Answer 1

1. Level of moral reasoning
2. Cognitive distortions

Question 2

Level of moral reasoning

Answer 2

• The way a person thinks about right and wrong.
• The higher the level the more that behaviour is driven by a sense of what is right
• The less history is driven by just avoiding punishment or avoiding the disapproval of others.

Question 3

Moral dilemmas

Answer 3

Stage indicated by responses to stories such as the Heinz dilemma

Question 4

Link with criminality

Answer 4

Offenders are more likely to be classified at the pre-conventional stage, whereas non-offenders are usually at the conventional or post conventional stage

Question 5

What are the three levels of moral reasoning

Answer 5

Pre-conventional
Conventional
Post-conventional

Question 6

What are the 6 stages of Kohlberges moral reasoning theory

Answer 6

• Punishment orientation
• Instrumental orientation
• Good boy or good girl orientation
• Maintenance of the social order
• Morality of contract and individual rights
• Morality of conscience

Question 7

Punishment orientation stage

Answer 7

Rules are obeyed to avoid punishment

Question 8

Instrumental orientation stage

Answer 8

Rules are obeyed for personal gain

Question 9

Good boy or Good girl orientation stage

Answer 9

Rules are obeyed for approval

Question 10

Maintenance of the social order stage

Answer 10

Rules are obeyed to maintain social order

Question 11

Morality of contract and individual rights stage

Answer 11

Rules are challenged if they infringe on the rights of others

Question 12

Morality of conscience stage

Answer 12

Individuals have a personal set of ethical principles

Question 13

Heinz Dilemma in explaining offender behaviour

Answer 13

Offenders tend to show a lower level of moral reasoning that non-offenders with Kohlberg’s research showing a group of violent youths were at a significantly lower level of moral development than non-violent youths

Question 14

Level of moral reasoning evaluation points- Research support

Answer 14

STRENGTH

Offenders less mature moral reasoning than non-offenders
(Palmer and Holland)

Question 15

Level of moral reasoning evaluation points- Type of offence

Answer 15

LIMITATION

Crimes for financial gain, more pre-conventional reasoning than impulsive crimes (Thornton and Reid)

Question 16

Cognitive distortions

Answer 16

Faulty, biased and irrational ways of thinking that mean we perceive ourselves, other people and the world inaccurately and usually negatively

Question 17

Hostile attribution bias

Answer 17

Offenders see ambiguous facial expressions as hostile, roots in childhood

Question 18

Minimalisation

Answer 18

Deny seriousness of offence, especially sex offenders

Question 19

Cognitive distortions evaluation points- Real-world application

Answer 19

STRENGTH

CBT aims to reduce cognitive distortions, so reduced reoffending (Harkins)

Question 20

Cognitive distortions evaluation points- Type of offence

Answer 20

LIMITATION

Non-contact sex offenders used more cognitive distortions