Individualistic theories of criminality: cognitive theories Flashcards
What is cognition?
Thinking /mental processes such as attitudes, beliefs, reasoning, decision-making, self-concept and how we interpret the world around us
What is the cognitive theory?
The idea that how we think, interpret a situation will affect how we respond
What is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – treatment to ‘correct’ faulty thinking patterns
What is PICTS?
Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles – a questionnaire aimed at revealing criminal thought patterns
What is representative?
If the results of a study can be generalised to the whole population
What is the attrition rate?
The number of participants who drop out of a study
What is the key idea of Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?
Criminals are prone to faulty thinking and this makes them more likely to commit crime
What is the study linking to Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?
240 male offenders, most of whom had been committed to a psychiatric unit
What are thinking errors that link to crime linking to Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?
Criminals show a range of biases and errors in their thinking and decision-making which may lead to crime e.g lying
What is one strength of Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?
This has led to other research e.g. PICTS
What is a second strength of Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?
Successful treatments e.g. CBT have been developed from these ideas
What is one limitation of Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?
Yochelson and Samenow didn’t use a control group of non-criminals to compare thinking errors with
What is a second limitation of Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?
Their sample was unrepresentative – only males, and mostly in psychiatric hospitals. Can’t account for all criminals
What is a third limitation of Yochelson and Samenow and criminal personality theory?
High sample attrition rate – only 30 left in study by the end
What is the key idea of Kohlberg’s moral development theory?
Our ideas of right and wrong develop through a series of levels and stages from childhood to adulthood
How does Kohlberg’s moral development theory link to crime?
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
What is CBT relating to Kohlberg’s moral development theory?
Cognitive theories have led to the development of CBT as a possible treatment for criminal behaviour
What is one strength of Kohlberg’s moral development theory?
Some studies support delinquents having less mature stage of moral development
What is a second strength of Kohlberg’s moral development theory?
Thornton and Reid - found the theory to be truer for planned crimes such as theft and robbery than impulsive crimes like violence
What is one limitation of Kohlberg’s moral development theory?
Focuses on moral thinking rather than moral behaviour. Someone may be perfectly capable of thinking morally, while acting immorally
What is one general criticism of individualistic theories?
Artificality - behaviour in lab experiments is often not the same as in real-life situations
What is a second general criticism of individualistic theories?
Sample bias - studies are often only on convicted criminals who may differ from those who don’t get caught
What is a third general criticism of individualistic theories?
Neglect of social factors - they ignore social factors which may cause criminality e.g. poverty and discrimination
