Individualistic theories of criminality: cognitive theories

Question 1

What is cognition?

Answer 1

Thinking /mental processes such as attitudes, beliefs, reasoning, decision-making, self-concept and how we interpret the world around us

Question 2

What is the cognitive theory?

Answer 2

The idea that how we think, interpret a situation will affect how we respond

Question 3

What is CBT?

Answer 3

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – treatment to ‘correct’ faulty thinking patterns

Question 4

What is PICTS?

Answer 4

Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles – a questionnaire aimed at revealing criminal thought patterns

Question 5

What is representative?

Answer 5

If the results of a study can be generalised to the whole population

Question 6

What is the attrition rate?

Answer 6

The number of participants who drop out of a study

Question 7

What is the key idea of Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?

Answer 7

Criminals are prone to faulty thinking and this makes them more likely to commit crime

Question 8

What is the study linking to Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?

Answer 8

240 male offenders, most of whom had been committed to a psychiatric unit

Question 9

What are thinking errors that link to crime linking to Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?

Answer 9

Criminals show a range of biases and errors in their thinking and decision-making which may lead to crime e.g lying

Question 10

What is one strength of Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?

Answer 10

This has led to other research e.g. PICTS

Question 11

What is a second strength of Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?

Answer 11

Successful treatments e.g. CBT have been developed from these ideas

Question 12

What is one limitation of Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?

Answer 12

Yochelson and Samenow didn’t use a control group of non-criminals to compare thinking errors with

Question 13

What is a second limitation of Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?

Answer 13

Their sample was unrepresentative – only males, and mostly in psychiatric hospitals. Can’t account for all criminals

Question 14

What is a third limitation of Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?

Answer 14

High sample attrition rate – only 30 left in study by the end

Question 15

What is the key idea of Kohlberg’s moral development theory?

Answer 15

Our ideas of right and wrong develop through a series of levels and stages from childhood to adulthood

Question 16

How does Kohlberg’s moral development theory link to crime?

Answer 16

Criminals are stuck at a less mature level of moral development and likely to think only of reward and punishment, not about how their behaviour will affect others

Question 17

What is CBT relating to Kohlberg’s moral development theory?

Answer 17

Cognitive theories have led to the development of CBT as a possible treatment for criminal behaviour

Question 18

What is one strength of Kohlberg’s moral development theory?

Answer 18

Some studies support delinquents having less mature stage of moral development

Question 19

What is a second strength of Kohlberg’s moral development theory?

Answer 19

Thornton and Reid - found the theory to be truer for planned crimes such as theft and robbery than impulsive crimes like violence

Question 20

What is one limitation of Kohlberg’s moral development theory?

Answer 20

Focuses on moral thinking rather than moral behaviour. Someone may be perfectly capable of thinking morally, while acting immorally

Question 21

What is one general criticism of individualistic theories?

Answer 21

Artificality - behaviour in lab experiments is often not the same as in real-life situations

Question 22

What is a second general criticism of individualistic theories?

Answer 22

Sample bias - studies are often only on convicted criminals who may differ from those who don’t get caught

Question 23

What is a third general criticism of individualistic theories?

Answer 23

Neglect of social factors - they ignore social factors which may cause criminality e.g. poverty and discrimination