Cognitive Explanations of offending behaviour

• What are Kohlberg's three levels of moral reasoning?


  1. Pre-conventional
  2. Conventional
  3. Post-conventional
• What characterizes the pre-conventional level of moral reasoning?

  People consider how their actions will affect them personally
• What is the conventional level of moral reasoning focused on?

  What is best for personal relationships and society
• What is the post-conventional level of moral reasoning concerned with?

  Personal ethical principles
• How does Kohlberg suggest most criminals reason morally?

  They are likely to be stuck at the pre-conventional level
• What is minimization in the context of cognitive distortions?

  Seeing one's behavior as less serious than it really is
• What is hostile attribution bias?

  Automatically assuming others have negative intentions
• What did Holland and Palmer find in their study on moral reasoning?

  Male offenders had lower moral reasoning than non-offenders
• What is a limitation of Kohlberg's research?

  It is based on responses to hypothetical dilemma questions
• What is a potential issue with gender bias in Kohlberg's theory?

  It was developed using an all-male sample
• What did Gilligan suggest about Kohlberg's work?

  It focuses on a male ideal of justice
• What are the implications of cognitive processes like hostile attribution bias and minimization for criminal behavior?

  • They can lead to irrational thinking.
  • They may justify criminal acts.
  • They can be addressed through cognitive behavioral programs.
• What is one example of a cognitive behavioral program mentioned?

  Anger management
• What is the purpose of cognitive behavioral programs in relation to offending behavior?

  To challenge irrational thinking and reduce reoffending
• What is the focus of the video mentioned at the end of the study material?

  Differential association theory