Forensics - Cognitive Explanations of Offending (PAPER 3)

Question 1

What are cognitive explanations of offending?

Answer 1

Suggest that there are ways of thinking, internal mental processes and moral decisions that lead to offending behaviour.

Question 2

Who is Kohlberg?

Answer 2

Psychologist who suggests that we pass through 3 levels of moral reasoning and increase moral maturity each level - criminal behaviour more likely at lower levels

Question 3

What is Kohlberg’s first stage of moral reasoning?

Answer 3

• pre-conventional
• sub-stage 1: punishment orientation
• sub-stage 2: reward orientation

Question 4

What is Kohlberg’s second stage of moral reasoning?

Answer 4

• conventional
• focus on what is best for personal relationships and society

Question 5

What is Kohlberg’s third stage of moral reasoning?

Answer 5

• post-conventional
• Considering moral principles and what is fundamentally right and wrong

Question 6

What are cognitive distortions?

Answer 6

Failures of the mind in accurately representing reality

Question 7

What is Hostile Attribution Bias?

Answer 7

Cognitive distortions that assume the other person has negative intentions

Question 8

What is Minimisation?

Answer 8

Cognitive distortion that interprets ones own behaviour as less serious that it was - an attempt to reduce feelings of guilt

Question 9

Positive evaluations of Cognitive Explanations of Offending. (AO3)

Answer 9

• Hollin and Palmer found male offenders showed lower moral reasoning compared to non-offenders
• Understanding the link between cognitive processes and offending can lead to better therapies

Question 10

Negative evaluations of Cognitive Explanations of Offending. (AO3)

Answer 10

• Kohlberg’s theory is based on the use of hypotheticals where social desirability bias can play a part
• External validity low
• Gender bias (all-male sample)