Psychological explanations: Cognitive theories

Question 1

What are cognitive distortions?

Answer 1

• Errors or biases in people’s information processing system characterised by faulty thinking. We perceive ourselves, other people and the world inaccurately and usually negatively

Question 2

What is hostile attribution bias?

Answer 2

• The tendency to judge ambiguous situations, or the actions of others, aggressive and/or threatening when in reality they may not be.

Question 3

Research into hostile attribution bias

Answer 3

• Michael Schonenberg and Aiste Justye presented 55 offenders with ambiguous facial expressions.
• When compared to a control group, the offenders were more likely to perceive as angry/hostile.

Question 4

What is minimalisation?

Answer 4

• A type of deception that involves downplaying the significance of an event or emotion. A common strategy when dealing with feelings or guilt

Question 5

Research into minimalisation

Answer 5

• Howard Barbaree - found among 26 incarcerated rapists, 54% denied the offence and 40% minimised the harm caused

Question 6

Strength of cognitive distortions: real life application

Answer 6

• Applies to CBT therapy
• It aims to challenge irrational thinking, offenders are encouraged to face up to what they have done and establish a less distorted view of their actions
• Associated with a reduced risk of offending
• Theory has practical value

Question 7

Weakness of cognitive distortions: Type of offence

Answer 7

• It depends on the type of offence
• Howitt and Sheldon gathered questionnaire responses from sex offenders, found non-contact offenders (accessed sexual images on the internet) used more cognitive distortions than contact sex offenders (had physically abused children)
• Distortions not used in the same way by all offenders

Question 8

What is levels of moral reasoning?

Answer 8

• Process in which an individuals draws their own value system to determine whether an action is right or wrong.
• There are 3 levels: preconventional morality, conventional morality and post conventional morality
• Higher the stage, more sophisticated the reasoning

Question 9

What is the link between levels of moral reasoning and criminality?

Answer 9

• Offenders more likely to be at pre-conventional level
• Characterised by a need to avoid punishment and gain rewards (money, increased respect, etc.) Associated with less mature, child-like reasoning
• Non-offenders generally progressed to conventional level and beyond
• Individuals at higher levels tend to sympathise more with the rights of others, exhibit more conventional behaviours such as honesty, generosity and non violence.

Question 10

Strength of LOMR: Research support

Answer 10

• Palmer and Collin compared moral reasoning in 332 non-offenders and 126 convicted offenders using SRM-SF, which had 11 moral dilemma related questions.
• Offender group showed less mature moral reasoning than the non-offender group.
• Consistent with Kohlbergs predictions

Question 11

Weakness of LOMR: Type of offence

Answer 11

• Thornton and Reid found that people who committed crimes for financial gain (eg: robbery) were more likely to show pre-conventional moral reasoning than those convicted of impulsive crimes (eg: assault)
• Pre-conventional moral reasoning associated with crimes in which offenders believe they have a good chance of avoiding punishment
• Doesn’t apply to all crime