Cognitive explanations - AO3 Flashcards
1
Q
What is a strength of level of moral reasoning?
A
- P: Strength = evidence for the link between level of moral reasoning and crime
- E: Palmer and Hollin (1948): Compared moral reasoning in 332 non-offenders and 126 convicted offenders using socio moral reflection measure short form (SRM-SF) - contains 11 moral dilemma related questions
- E: The offender group showed less mature moral reaosning than the non-offender group
- L: This is consistent with Kohlberg’s predictions
2
Q
What is a limitation of level of moral reasoning?
A
- P: Limitation = level of moral reasoning may depend on the offence
- E: Thornton and Reid (1982): People who commited crimes for financial gain (e.g robberies) were more likely to show pre-conventional moral reasoning, than those convicted of impulsive crimes (assault)
- E: Pre-conventional moral reasoning tends to be associated with crimes in which offenders believe they have a good chance at evading punishment
- L: Kohlberg’s theory may not apply to all forms of crime
3
Q
What is a strength of cognitive distortions?
A
- P: Strength = application to therapy
- E: CBT - challenges irrational thinking, offenders are encouraged to face what they have done and establish a less distorted view of their actions
- E: Harkins et al (2010): suggest reduced incidence of denial and minimalisation in therapy is highly associated with a reduced risk of reoffending
- L: Theory of cognitive distortions has practical value
4
Q
What is a limitation of cognitive explanations?
A
- P: Limitation = level of cognition depends on the type of offence
- E: Howitt and Sheldon (2007): gathered questionnaire responses form sexual offenders. Contrary to what they predicted non contact sexual offenders used more cognitive distorions than contact sexual offenders
- E: Those who had a previous history of offenders were also more likely to use distoritions as a justification
- L: Distortions are not used in the same way by all offenders
