Forensics - cognitive

• What do cognitive explanations suggest about offending behavior?

  They involve internal mental processes and thinking
• What are the three levels of moral reasoning according to Kohlberg?

  1. Pre-conventional
  2. Conventional
  3. Post-conventional
• What is the relationship between moral reasoning and criminal behavior?

  Lower moral reasoning increases criminal behavior likelihood
• At which level do criminals reportedly get stuck?

  Pre-conventional level
• What characterizes the first stage of pre-conventional moral reasoning?

  Behavior is based on avoiding punishment
• What is the focus of the second stage of pre-conventional moral reasoning?

  Behavior is based on seeking rewards
• How does the conventional level of moral reasoning affect criminal behavior?

  It reduces criminal behavior by considering relationships
• What does the post-conventional level of moral reasoning involve?

  Considering general moral principles of right and wrong
• What are cognitive distortions?

  Failures in accurately representing reality
• What is hostile attribution bias?

  Assuming others have negative intentions
• How might someone misinterpret a bump in a bar due to hostile attribution bias?

  They might see it as an aggressive attack
• What is minimization in the context of cognitive distortions?

  Seeing one's behavior as less serious
• How do offenders use minimization to justify their actions?

  By denying harm caused to victims
• What did Hollin and Palmer (1998) find about moral reasoning in offenders?

  • Male offenders showed poorer moral reasoning
  • Compared to male non-offenders
  • Study involved ages 13 to 22
• What is a limitation of Kohlberg's theory regarding generalizability?

  It may not apply to real-life offenses
• What type of sample did Kohlberg use for his theory?

  All-male sample
• What is beta bias in the context of Kohlberg's theory?

  Assuming findings apply to both genders
• What did Gilligan (1982) argue about Kohlberg's theory?

  It is gender biased towards male ideas
• How can understanding cognitive processing help offenders?

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can change irrational thinking
  • May reduce costs of offending on the economy
• What is the significance of understanding cognitive explanations in psychology?

  It aids in developing interventions like CBT
• What do cognitive explanations suggest about offending behavior?

  They involve internal mental processes and thinking
• What does Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning propose?

  We pass through three levels of moral reasoning
• How does criminal behavior relate to moral reasoning levels?

  Criminal behavior is linked to lower moral reasoning
• What is the first level of moral reasoning according to Kohlberg?

  Pre-conventional level
• What characterizes the pre-conventional level of moral reasoning?

  Morality is based on personal consequences
• What is stage 1 of the pre-conventional level?

  Punishment orientation
• How does punishment orientation influence behavior?

  Correct behavior avoids punishment
• When is criminal behavior likely to occur in punishment orientation?

  When individuals feel they can avoid punishment
• What is stage 2 of the pre-conventional level?

  Reward orientation
• What does reward orientation imply about behavior?

  Correct behavior seeks maximum rewards
• Under what condition is criminal behavior likely in reward orientation?

  If the reward outweighs the risk
• What is the conventional level of moral reasoning?

  It considers personal relationships and society
• How does the post-conventional level differ from the conventional level?

  It considers general moral principles
• What is the relationship between moral reasoning levels and criminal behavior?

  Higher levels reduce likelihood of criminal behavior
• What are the three levels of moral reasoning according to Kohlberg?

  1. Pre-conventional level

  • Stage 1: Punishment orientation
  • Stage 2: Reward orientation

  1. Conventional level
  2. Post-conventional level
• What are the characteristics of each level of moral reasoning?

  • Pre-conventional: Self-centered morality
  • Conventional: Social relationships and norms
  • Post-conventional: Universal moral principles