psychological explanations: cognitive Flashcards
what are cognitive distortions
-faulty, biased, irritational ways of thinking that mean we perceive ourseleves or other negatively
what did lawrence kohlberg say about moral development
-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
what did kohlberg find out using his moral dilemmas
-grp of violent youths were at a significantly lower level of moral development than non violent youths (even after controlling social background)
whats kohlbergs link with criminality
-criminals have lower levels of moral reasoning
-they dont progress from the pre conventional level of moral reasoning
what is the pre conventional level of moral reasoning
-they seek to avoid punishment and gain rewards e.g money and respect
what reasoning to criminals have
-child like reasoning
what did chandler suggest about offenders
-often theyre more egocentric
-display poor social perspective skills than non offenders
how do non criminals show post conventional moral reasoning
-non criminals reason at higher levels and sympathise w the rights of others , exhibit honesty and generosity and are non violent.
what is hostile attritubution bias in cognitive distortions
-violence asscoaited w the tendency to misinterpret the actions of others i,e assuming they are being confrontational when they arent
what did schonenberg and justye research
-55 violent offenders were presented with images of emotionally ambigious facial expressions
what did schonenberg and justye find
-when comapred with control group offenders likely than non offenders to percieve the images as angry and hostile
what did dodge and frame find on stemming from childhood
-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
what is minimalisation
-denying or downplaying seriousness of offence e.g theives claiming it was to support their family
what did barbee find in relation to minimalisation
-among 26 convicted rapists
-54% denied they comitted offence at all and 40% minimised the harm they comitted to the victim
what did pollack and hashmall say on minimalisation
-35% of the sample of child molesters said the crime they comitted was non sexual
-36% said the victims had consented
what does minimalisation cause
-reduces sense of guilt particularly in sex offenders
strengths of level of moral reasoning
(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
weaknesses of levels of moral reasoning
(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
what is the thinking vs behaviour argument
-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
strengths of cognititve distortions
(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
weaknesses of cognitive distortions
(type of offence)
-HOWLT AND SHELDON= gathered quetsionnaire responses from sexual offenders
-contrary to researchers predictions , non contact 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
what is the descriptive or explantory arguemnt
-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
what is the pre conventional level (stages 1 and 2)
-S1= punishment oritnetaion rules are obeyed to avoid punishment
-S2= rules obeyed for personal gain
what is conventional morality
(stage 3 and 4)
-S3= obey for apporval e.g good boy
-S4= maintence of the social order = obey rules for social roder
