Cognitive Explanations for offending AO3

• how is Kohlberg's study research evidence for cognitive explanations?

  • found violent youths had significantly lower levels of moral reasoning than non-violent youths, suggesting offenders may be more childlike and egocentric, supporting moral reasoning as an explanation for crime
  • gives Kohlberg's theory high external validity as it has been applied to criminals in the real-world
  • however, Kohlberg himself conducted research so may be issues of researcher bias as he wouldn't want to disprove his own theory
  • therefore, this may undermine validity of moral reasoning for explaining crime
• how is scientific basis a limitation for cognitive explanations?

  • methodological issues - Kohlberg sample all male and young, call into question extent we can generalise findings to females/ other ages
  • research is based on hypothetical dilemmas where he only analyses offenders thoughts, not their true actions - thoughts can be processed carefully and can be changed to seem better, whereas offenders actions are generally impulsive and without careful processing
  • findings can't be generalised to real-life actions of offenders, undermine validity of moral reasoning as an explanation for crime
• what are implications of cognitive explanations for offending?

  • cognitive distortions - CBT where irrational thinking is challenged links to how offenders can 'face up' to what they have done, using knowledge of offenders tendencies to minimise the seriousness of their actions
  • studies suggest reduced incidence of denial and minimalisation in therapy is linked to reduced risk of reoffending
  • can then have important implications on economy as this therapy can possibly decrease amount of reoffending in society
• what is some research support for cognitive explanations for crime?

  • Schonenberg & Justye found violent offenders were significantly more likely to perceive images of emotionally ambiguous facial expressions as angry and hostile (compared with a non-aggressive control group) - supports hostile attribution bias
• what is some research evidence minimalisation?

  • Kennedy & Grubin found majority of convicted sex offenders tended to blame the victim, and a quarter of sample interviewed believed abuse was a positive thing for the victim, minimising their involvement
  • this supports theory of minimalisation - criminals will try to justify own behaviour through blaming others or even by placing their serious acts in a positive light