Psychological Explanations:Cognitive Theory Flashcards
Who was the first researcher to apply moral reasoning to criminality?
Kohlberg
What can people’s decisions and judgments on what’s right and wrong be summarized in?
A stage theory or moral reasoning
What does a higher stage in Kohlberg’s moral reasoning indicate?
More sophisticated reasoning
How do people progress through the stages of moral reasoning?
Through biological maturation and discussion
Kohlberg found that a group of violent youths were at a lower level of moral development than non violent youth
What level are offenders more likely classified at in Kohlberg’s model?
Pre conventional level (stage 1 and 2)
Non offenders usually at the conventional level upwards
What characterizes the pre conventional level of moral reasoning?
Needing to avoid punishment and gain rewards
less mature and childlike
What is a common trait of adults and adolescents performing at the pre conventional level?
They may commit crime if they can get away with it and gain something
What cognitive trait is often found in offenders related to social skills?
Poor social perspective-taking skills
What are cognitive distortions?
Errors or biases in processing information
Characterised by faulty thinking
- researchers linked this to the way offenders interpret other peoples behaviour and justify their own actions
What is hostile attribution bias?
The tendency to misinterpret the actions of others as confrontational
assuming people are being confrontational when theyre not
- offenders may misread non confrontational cues triggering a disproportionate, often violent response
What did Schonenberg and Aiste find regarding offenders and emotional cues?
Through presenting 55 offenders with images of emotionally ambiguous faces - offenders were more likely to interpret ambiguous faces as angry and hostile
What is minimalisation in the context of criminal behavior?
Attempt to deny or downplay the seriousness of the offense
What percentage of rapists denied committing an offense according to Barbaree?
54%
another 40% minimised the harm that they caused to the individual
What did Jodi Arias claim to minimize her actions during her trial?
Self-defense
What did Palmer and Collin compare in their study?
As a strength to moral reasoning and crime
Moral reasoning in non-offenders and offenders
What tool did Palmer and Collin use to measure moral reasoning?
Socio Moral Reflection Measure Short Form (SRM-SF)
contained 11 moral dilemma-related questions and offender group showed a less mature moral reasoning than the no offender group
- consistent with Kohlberg’s work
What did Thornton and Reid find regarding moral reasoning and types of crime?
As a limitation of moral reasoning and crime
Those committing crime for financial gain showed more pre conventional reasoning
Preconventional moral reasoning tends to be associated with crimes in which offenders believe they have a good chance of evading punishment
- means kohlberg’s theory cannot be applied to all forms of crime
What is a strength of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for offenders?
It aims to challenge irrational thinking
- helps them to establish a less distortioned view of ther actions
What was the outcome of Harkins et al’s study related to denial and minimalisation?
As a strength of cognitive distortions
Reduced incidences of denial and minimalisation associated with reduced re-offending
- acceptance of ones crime is a huge part of rehabilitiation
What did Howitt and Sheldon find about non-contact sexual offenders?
as a limitation of cognitive distortions
They used more cognitive distortions than contact offenders
Those with previous history were more likely to use distortions
What does Howitt and Sheldon’s study say about cognitive distortions?
Dont help predict the future
- someone with distorted thinking isnt inevitably going to become a criminal
Fill in the blank: Offenders are often more ________ with poor social perspective-taking skills.
egocentric
