Psychological explanations: Cognitive Flashcards
Who was the first researcher to apply the concept of moral reasoning to offending behaviour?
Kohlberg (1968)
Kohlberg (1968) proposed that people’s decisions and judgements on issues of right and wrong can be summarised in…
a stage theory of moral reasoning
The higher Kohlberg’s (1968) stage of moral reasoning, the more…
sophisticated the reasoning
What did Kohlberg (1968) base his theory for offender behaviour on?
People’s responses to a series of moral dilemmas (the Heinz dilemma)
What did Kohlberg (1968) find about a group of violent youths?
They were at a significantly lower level of moral development than non-violent youths
True/False: Kohlberg (1968) found that a group of violent youths were at a significantly lower level of moral development than non-violent youths, even after controlling for social background
True
Many studies have suggested that offenders tend to show a higher/lower level of moral reasoning than non-offenders
lower
True/False: There is a link between criminality and level of moral reasoning
True
Which level of Kohlberg’s model are offenders more likely to be classified at?
The pre-conventional level
What are stages one and 2 of Kohlberg’s model characterised by?
A need to avoid punishment and gain rewards
Which stages of Kohlberg’s model are at the pre-conventional level?
Stages 1 and 2
What is the pre-conventional level of Kohlberg’s model associated with?
Less mature, childlike reasoning
Adults and adolescents who reason at the pre-conventional level of Kohlberg’s model may commit crime if…
they can get away with it or gain rewards in the form of money, increased respect, etc.
Adults and adolescents who reason was this level of Kohlberg’s model may commit crime if they can get away with it or gain rewards in the form of money, increased respect, etc?
The pre-conventional level
Studies suggest that offenders are more/less egocentric
More
True/False: Studies suggest that offenders are often more self-centred and display poorer social perspective-taking skills than non-offender peers
True
Individuals who reason at higher/lower levels tend to sympathise more with the rights of others
higher
Individuals who reason at higher levels tend to sympathise more with the rights of others and exhibit more ____________ behaviours
conventional
Individuals who reason at higher levels tend to sympathise more with the rights of others and exhibit more conventional behaviours such as… (give 2 examples)
Any 2 from honesty, generosity, non-violence, etc.
True/False: Non-offenders have generally progressed to which level of moral reasoning?
The conventional level and beyond
True/False: There is evidence for the link between moral reasoning and crime
True
Palmer and Hollin (1998) compared what in 332 non-offenders and 126 convicted offenders?
Moral reasoning
Palmer and Hollin (1998) compared moral reasoning in ___ non-offenders and 126 offenders
332
Palmer and Hollin (1998) compared moral reasoning in 332 non-offenders and ___ offenders
126
Palmer and Hollin (1998) compared moral reasoning in which two groups of people?
Offenders and non-offenders
Palmer and Hollin (1998) compared moral reasoning in 332 non-offenders and 126 convicted offenders using which measure?
The socio moral reflection measure
Palmer and Hollin (1998) compared moral reasoning in 332 non-offenders and 126 convicted offenders using the socio moral reflection measure which contains what?
11 moral dilemma-related questions such as not taking things that belong to others and keeping a promise to a friend
What did Palmer and Hollin (1998) find about the offender group’s moral reasoning?
They showed less mature moral reasoning than the non-offender group
Palmer and Hollin (1998)’s findings were consistent with/contradicted Kohlberg’s predictions
were consistent with
Thornton and Reid (1982) found that people who committed crimes for financial gain were more likely to show…
pre-conventional moral reasoning than those convicted of impulse crimes (e.g. assault)
Thornton and Reid (1982) found that people who committed what kind of crimes were more likely to show pre-conventional moral reasoning than those convicted of impulse crimes (e.g. assault)?
Crimes for financial gain
Pre-conventional moral reasoning tends to be associated with crimes in which the offender believes they have a good chance of…
evading punishment