Cognitive Explanations of offending (Hostile attribution/Minimalisation)

Question 1

What is a cognitive distortion?

Answer 1

Faulty, biased and irrational ways of thinking that that mean we perceive ourselves/the world inaccurately and unusually negatively.

Question 2

What are two examples of cognitive distortions?

Answer 2

Hostile attribution and minimalisation.

Question 3

What is hostile attribution bias?

Answer 3

Offenders may misread non-aggressive cues (such as being “looked” at) and this may trigger a disproportionate, often violent response.

Question 4

Michael Schonenberg and Aiste Justye (2004)…

Answer 4

Presented 55 violent offenders with images of emotionally ambiguous facial expressions.
When compared with a non-aggressive matched control group, the violent offenders were significantly more likely to perceive the images as angry and hostile.

Question 5

Where does hostile attribution originate?

Answer 5

Roots of this behaviour may be apparent in childhood. Kenneth Dodge and Cynthia (2014) showed children a video clip of “ambiguous provocation”.
Children identified as “aggressive” and “rejected” prior to this study interpreted situation as more hostile.

Question 6

What is minimalisation?

Answer 6

An attempt to deny/downplay the seriousness of an offence.
Common strategy when dealing with feelings of guilt.

Question 7

Barbaree (1991)

Answer 7

found those who commit sexual offences are more prone to minimalisation as out of 26 incarcerated rapists 54% denied committing an offence and 40% minimised the harm they caused.

Question 8

Why might there be practical applications to cognitive distortions?

Answer 8

CBT aims to challenge irrational thinking.
Offenders encouraged to “face up” to what they have done to establish a less distorted view of their actions.

Question 9

What is a limitation of cognitive distortions in regards to predicting future offending?

Answer 9

cognitive theories do not help in predicting future offender behaviour - just because someone tends to have distorted thinking doesn’t inevitably mean they will become an offender nor does it necessarily explain the original base for offending.

Question 10

What type of crime might cognitive distortions only account for?

Answer 10

Pre-meditated