Yochelson & Samenow 1976 Cognitive - criminal personality

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To investigate whether criminals cognition differs to that of non-criminals

Question 2

Participants

Answer 2

255 criminals, half pleaded NGRI (however only 30 completed all interviews

Question 3

Method

Answer 3

Longitudinal study (14 years)

• conducted during the experimenters time working in a mental hospital - used interviews based on psychoanalytical postulates to find the root cause of criminal behaviour
• used freudian therapy to study cognition over the years

Question 4

Results

Answer 4

52 thinking errors identified ( 3 main categories)

• crime related thinking errors
• automatic thinking errors (e.g. lack of empathy)
• criminal thinking patterns (e.g. need for control)

Question 5

Conclusions

Answer 5

Criminals are for the most part in total control of their life, any criminal behaviour is a result of choices made by the individual.

criminals typically have distorted self image and deny responsibility for their actions.