Lesson 6: Cognitive Explanations Flashcards
What is Moral Reasoning?
- refers to the process by which an individual draws upon their own value system to determine whether an action is right or wrong
- proposed that the quality of judgements can be summarised by a stage theory of moral development
What moral reasoning will offenders have?
- Pre-conventional level: person is punishment orientated and reward orientated
- Immature reasoning lasting from ages 3-7
- Teens and adults who still reason in this may commit crime if they can get away with it/gain rewards
Evaluation of Moral Reasoning
(+) A study compared moral reasoning between 210 female non offenders, 122 male non-offenders and 126 convicted offenders using 11 moral dilemmas. The offender showed less mature moral reasoning than the non-offenders
(-) The level of moral reasoning depends on the type of offence. The study found that those who committed crimes for financial gain were more likely to show preconventional reasoning than those convicted of impulsive crimes where no reasoning was evident
What are cognitive distortions?
Faulty and irrational ways of thinking that make people perceive themselves, other people and the world inaccurately, often negatively
What is hostile attribution bias?
- Tendency to judge ambiguous situations as aggressive or threatening when they are not
- Offenders misread non-aggressive cues, triggering a disproportionate and violent response.
- Victim blaming for ‘Starting it’
What is minimalisation?
- Criminal believes crime was tribal and downplays impact of their crime
- Common strategy to avoid guilt
- Offenders use euphemisms for their crimes
Evaluation of cognitive distortions
(+) Beneficial in treatment of criminal behaviour through CBT, making their views less distorted. Highly correlated to reduced risk of offending
(-) Explains thinking, but cannot explain the source of thoughts (nature/nurture)
(-) Thoughts cannot be observed or measured so it’s not too scientific
