FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY: Cognitive Explanations

Question 1

What are Cognitive Distortions?

Answer 1

Faulty biased irrational ways of thinking that mean we perceive ourselves, other people and/or the world in a way that does not match the reality and is usually negative. Therefore, a person’s perception of events is wrong, but they think it is accurate.

Question 2

How are cognitive distortions relevant to offending behaviour?

Answer 2

Such distortions allow an offender to deny or rationalise their criminal behaviour

Question 3

What are the two types of cognitive distortions relevant to criminal behaviour?

Answer 3

• Hostile attribution bias

- Minimisation

Question 4

What is Hostile Attribution Bias?

Answer 4

Tendency to misinterpret or misread other people’s actions, words and/or expressions as aggressive, provocative and/or threatening when in reality they are not. Offenders tend to misread non-aggressive cues.

Question 5

What are examples of Hostile Attribution Bias?

Answer 5

• ‘The way he spoke to me was very aggressive’

- ‘ She was rude; she needs taking down a peg or two’

Question 6

What is Minimisation?

Answer 6

Attempt to downplay the seriousness of one’s own offences to explain the consequences as less significant or damaging than they are. Helps individual to accept their actions and reduce negative emotions like guilt associated with it.

Question 7

What are examples of Minimisation?

Answer 7

• ‘With a car with all those mods, he was asking for it to get nicked’
• ’ I was trying to be nice; it was a compliment’
• ’ It’s not like they would even care, they never used it anyway’

Question 8

What is Moral Reasoning?

Answer 8

How an individual draws in their own value system to determine whether an action is right or wrong.

Question 9

Who created a theory of Moral Reasoning?

Answer 9

Kohlberg (1969)

Question 10

What did Kohlberg say about Moral Reasoning?

Answer 10

People’s decisions and judgements on issues of right and wrong can be summarised in a stage theory. The higher the stage, the more sophisticated the moral reasoning. People progress through the stages as a consequence of of biological maturity and by having opportunities to discuss their thoughts and feelings.

Question 11

What are the Three Levels of Moral Reasoning?

Answer 11

• Pre-conventional Level
• Conventional Level
• Post-conventional Level

Question 12

What are the two stages of the Preconventional Level?

Answer 12

Stage 1: Punishment and obedience > focuses of rules enforced by punishment
Stage 2: Instrumental purpose > what counts as ‘right’ is defined by one’s own needs

Question 13

What is the PReconventional Level?

Answer 13

Children accept rules of authority figures and judge actions by their consequences. Actions that result in punishments are bad; those that bring rewards are good

Question 14

What is the Conventional Level?

Answer 14

INdividuals continue to believe that conformity to social rules is desirable, but this is not out of self-interest. Maintaining the current social system ensures positive human relationships and social order.

Question 15

What are the two stages to the Conventional Level?

Answer 15

Stage 3: Good boy/girl > what is ‘right’ is defined by what others expect
Stage 4: Social order > reference to duties of each citizen

Question 16

What is the Postconventional Level?

Answer 16

Individual moves beyond unquestioning compliance to the norms of the social system. The individual now defines morality in terms of abstract moral principles that apply to all societies and situations

Question 17

What are the two stages of the Postconventional Level?

Answer 17

Stage 5: Social contract > individuals rights may be more important than law
Stage 6: Universal ethical principles

Question 18

How are Kohlberg’s Stages relevant to offending behaviour?

Answer 18

Criminals are likely to be at the preconventional level. They believe that breaking the law is justified if the rewards outweigh the costs or if punishment can be avoided. Most people reach this stage at about 10 years old.