Cognitive explanations AO1

• what are the two parts of cognitive explanations?

  • Kohlberg's level of moral reasoning
  • Cognitive Distortions
• what are the 5 stages of Kohlberg's level of moral reasoning?

  Stage 1 - Punishment Orientation

  Stage 2 - Instrumental orientation or personal gain

  Stage 3 - Rules are obeyed for approval

  Stage 4 - Rules are obeyed if they maintain the social order

  Stage 5 - Laws are obeyed if they protect the rights of most people

  Stage 6 - Morality of conscience
• what does moral reasoning refer to?

  the way people thinks about what is right and wrong, it is presumed that this then applies to moral behaviour, the higher the level of moral reasoning the more behaviour is driven by what is right and wrong and less about just avoiding punishment or disapproval from others
• what did Kohlberg argue?

  that people are at different levels or moral reasoning and he linked this with offending, the higher the level and stage, the more sophisticated the reasoning
• what did Kohlberg base his theories off?

  on people's responses to a series of moral dilemmas e.g. Heinz's dilemma
• what did Kohlberg argue about offenders?

  that offenders are more likely to be classified at the pre-conventional level, characterised by the need to avoid punishment and gain reward, this level is associated with less mature, childlike reasoning
• what is suggested about individuals who reason at higher levels?

  • they tend to be more sympathetic about the rights of others and show behaviours such as honesty, generosity and non-violence
  • they are therefore less likely to offend as they fully appreciate the impact on others and their own ethical principles
• what are cognitive distortions?

  • faulty, biased and irrational ways of thinking
  • lead to perceptions of ourselves and others being inaccurate and usually negative
  • research has linked this to the way offenders interpret other people's behaviour and justify their own actions - linked to their criminal behaviour
• what is Hostile Attribution Bias?

  • the tendency to misinterpret the actions of the other people as aggressive or threatening
  • assume that others are being confrontational when they are not e.g. 'looking at me funny'
  • this can trigger a violent response
• what is Minimalisation?

  • this is an attempt to deny or downplay the seriousness of an offence
  • this is a common strategy when dealing with feelings of guilt
  • e.g. burglar may describe themselves as 'doing a job'
  • sexual offenders have been prone to minimisation 'she was asking for it'