psychological explanations: cognitive

Question 1

what are cognitive distortions

Answer 1

-faulty, biased, irritational ways of thinking that mean we perceive ourseleves or other negatively

Question 2

what did lawrence kohlberg say about moral development

Answer 2

-applied concept of moral reasoning to criminal beh
-decisions and judgements of right and wrong develop in stages
-the higher the stage = more sophisticated the reasoning
-based theory on series of moral dilemmas

Question 3

what did kohlberg find out using his moral dilemmas

Answer 3

-grp of violent youths were at a significantly lower level of moral development than non violent youths (even after controlling social background)

Question 4

whats kohlbergs link with criminality

Answer 4

-criminals have lower levels of moral reasoning
-they dont progress from the pre conventional level of moral reasoning

Question 5

what is the pre conventional level of moral reasoning

Answer 5

-they seek to avoid punishment and gain rewards e.g money and respect

Question 6

what reasoning to criminals have

Answer 6

-child like reasoning

Question 7

what did chandler suggest about offenders

Answer 7

-often theyre more egocentric
-display poor social perspective skills than non offenders

Question 8

how do non criminals show post conventional moral reasoning

Answer 8

-non criminals reason at higher levels and sympathise w the rights of others , exhibit honesty and generosity and are non violent.

Question 9

what is hostile attritubution bias in cognitive distortions

Answer 9

-violence asscoaited w the tendency to misinterpret the actions of others i,e assuming they are being confrontational when they arent

Question 10

what did schonenberg and justye research

Answer 10

-55 violent offenders were presented with images of emotionally ambigious facial expressions

Question 11

what did schonenberg and justye find

Answer 11

-when comapred with control group offenders likely than non offenders to percieve the images as angry and hostile

Question 12

what did dodge and frame find on stemming from childhood

Answer 12

-children showed ‘ambigious provaction’ where intention was neither hostile or accidental
-children who has been judged as agressive were more likely to percieve the situation as hostile

Question 13

what is minimalisation

Answer 13

-denying or downplaying seriousness of offence e.g theives claiming it was to support their family

Question 14

what did barbee find in relation to minimalisation

Answer 14

-among 26 convicted rapists
-54% denied they comitted offence at all and 40% minimised the harm they comitted to the victim

Question 15

what did pollack and hashmall say on minimalisation

Answer 15

-35% of the sample of child molesters said the crime they comitted was non sexual
-36% said the victims had consented

Question 16

what does minimalisation cause

Answer 16

-reduces sense of guilt particularly in sex offenders

Question 17

strengths of level of moral reasoning

Answer 17

(evidence in support)
-PALMER AND HOLLIN - comapred moral reasoning in 332 males and female non offences and 126 convicted offences using socio moral reflection to measure which contains the 11 moral dilemma related Qs
-e,g not taking things that belong to others and keep promises to a friend
-offender grp showed less mature moral reasoning than non offender grp
-agrees to kohlbergs predcition

BLACKBURN= suggests its due to their childhood lacking moral role play opporutnties which may have helped to mature moral reasoning
-role play should be provided to develop moral reasoning

Question 18

weaknesses of levels of moral reasoning

Answer 18

(type of offence)
-THORNTON AND REID=
those who do financial crimes e.g robbery more likely to show pre concentional reasoning rather than someone doing impulsive crime e.g assault
-pre conventional reasoning associated with offenders believing they could evade punishment
-so K’s theory may not apply to all crimes

Question 19

what is the thinking vs behaviour argument

Answer 19

-kohlbergs theory is useful as it suggests offedners hv more child like and egocentric mind when it comes to moral judgements

But moral thiking isnt the same as moral behaviour
kohlbergs kind of moral reasoning was more interested in justifying behaviour after it happend

Question 20

strengths of cognititve distortions

Answer 20

(real world app)
-CBT aims to reduce irritaitonal thinking
-face up to what theyve done
HARKIN ET AL= reduce incidience of denail and minimalisation in therapy is highly asscoiated with reduce risk of re offending
-accepting ones crimes is a form of rehab

Question 21

weaknesses of cognitive distortions

Answer 21

(type of offence)
-HOWLT AND SHELDON= gathered quetsionnaire responses from sexual offenders
-contrary to researchers predictions , non sex offenders used more cognitive distortions then conatct sex offenders
-those w history of offending more likely to use CD to justify
-so CD not used in same way by all offenders

Question 22

what is the descriptive or explantory arguemnt

Answer 22

-cognitive theories good at describing the criminal mind helpes reduce reoffending long term e.g understanding that offenders minimalsise their crimes is a helpful starting point for therapy

-but the theory DOESNT predcit future offedning
js bc u have distroted thinking doesnt mean youll become a offender

Question 23

what is the pre conventional level (stages 1 and 2)

Answer 23

-S1= punishment oritnetaion rules are obeyed to avoid punishment
-S2= rules obeyed for personal gain

Question 24

what is conventional morality
(stage 3 and 4)

Answer 24

-S3= obey for apporval e.g good boy
-S4= maintence of the social order = obey rules for social roder

Question 25

what is post conventional morality
(Stage 5 and 6)

Answer 25

-S5= rules challenge if its infringes the rights of others
S6= morality of conscience e.g indivduals hv a personal set of ethical princples