Cognitive explanations

• Level of moral reasoning

  Refers to the way a person thinks about right and wrong. Higher the level, driven more by right and wrong rather than avoiding punishment or disapproval of others
• Kohlberg

  Applied concept of moral reasoning to offending behaviour.

  Proposed people's decisions and judgement on right or wrong could be summarised in stages.

  Offenders tend to show lower levels of moral reasoning
• Link to criminality

  Offenders more likely to be classified at pre-conventional level of Kohlberg's model (Stages 1 and 2)

  Characterised by a need to avoid punishment and gain rewards.

  Associated with less mature, childlike reasoning.
• Strength - Research support -> levels of moral reasoning

  Link between levels of moral reasoning + crime

  Palmer + Hollin

  Compared moral reasoning in 332 non-offenders and 126 convicted offenders. using the SRM-SF - had 11 moral dilemma-related questions.

  Offender group showed less mature moral reasoning.
• Limitation - Type of offence -> level of moral reasoning

  Thornton + Reid

  Found that people who committed crimes for financial gain were more likely to show pre-conventional moral reasoning than impulsive crimes.

  Pre-conventional linked to crimes where there is a good chance of avoiding punishment.
• Cognitive distortions

  Errors or biases in people's information processing system characterised by faulty thinking.

  • Hostile attribution bias
  • minimalisation
• Hostile attribution bias

  Offenders may misread non-aggressive cues which can trigger a disproportionate, often violent, response.
• Strength - Research support for Hostile attribution bias

  Schonenberg + Aiste

  Presented 55 violent offenders and a control group with images of emotionally ambiguous facial expressions.

  Violent offenders significantly more likely to perceive the images as angry and hostile.
• Minimalisation

  Attempt to deny or downplay the seriousness of an offence.
• Strength - Research support for minimalisation

  Barbaree

  Studied 26 incarcerated rapists

  54% denied they had committed an offence at all.

  40% minimised the harm they had caused the victim.
• Strength - Real world application -> cognitive distortions

  Application to CBT

  Challenges irrational thinking.

  Offenders are encouraged to face what they have done and see a less distorted view of their actions.

  Studies suggest reduced risk of reoffending with reduction of denial and minimalisation.
• Limitation - Type of offence -> cognitive distortions

  Howitt + Sheldon

  Gathered questionnaire responses from sexual offenders.

  Non-contact sexual offenders used more cognitive distortions that contact srx offenders.

  Distortions aren't used in the same way for all offenders.