cognitive distortions

• cognitive distortions definition

  faulty, biased and irrational ways of thinking mean that we perceive ourselves, other people and the world inaccurately and usually negatively.
• hostile attribution bias definition

  The tendency to judge ambiguous situations or the action of others as aggressive and/or threatening when in reality they may not be.
• minimalization or minimisation definition

  a type of deception that involves downplaying the significance of an event or emotion. A common strategy when dealing with feelings of guilt.
• cognitive distortions ao1

  Cognitive distortions are errors or biases in peoples information processing system characterised by faulty thinking. We all occasionally exhibit faulty thinking when explaining our own behaviour (especially when it was unexpected/out of character) -> but research has shown this is a much more typical way for criminals to interpret their behaviour and justify their own actions. Two examples of cognitive distortions = hostile attribution bias & Minimalisation
• hostile attribution bias ao1

  ambiguous situations judged as threatening

  Evidence suggests that a propensity for violence is often associated with a tendency to misinterpret the actions of other people – assume others are being confrontational when they’re not = hostile attribution bias. Offenders may misread non-aggressive cues (e.g. being looked at) and this may trigger a disproportionate often violent response.
• hostile attribution studies - research schonenberg and jusyte

  Schonenberg and Jusyte 2014, presented 55 violent offenders with images of emotionally ambiguous facial expressions. When compared with a non aggressive matched control group the violent offenders were significantly more likely to perceive the images as angry and hostile.
• hostile attribution bias research - childhood - dodge and frame 


  The roots of this behaviour may be apparent in childhood, Dodge and Frame 1982 showed children a video clip of an ambiguous provocation (intention was neither clearly hostile or accidental). Children who had been identified as aggressive and rejected prior to the study interpreted the situation as more hostile than those classed as non-aggressive and accepted.
• minimalization ao1

  downplaying the significance of the crime

  This is an attempt to deny/downplay the seriousness of an offence and has elsewhere been referred to as the application of a ‘euphemistic label’ for behaviour (bandura 1973). E.g. burglars may describe themselves as ‘doing a job’ or ‘supporting my family’ as a way of minimising the seriousness of their offences
• minimialisation - sex offenders

  This is particularly likely in sex offenders – Barbaree 1991 found among 26 incarcerated rapists 54% denied they have committed an offence at all and a further 40% minimised the harm they had caused the victim. Pollock and Hashmall 1991 found 35% of a sample of child molesters argued the crime they had committed was non-sexual (e.g. being affectionate) and 36% stated the victim consented.
• one strength of cognitive distortions is its application to therapy 


  Cognitive behaviour therapy aims to challenge irrational thinking. In the case of offending behaviour, offenders are encouraged to ‘face up’ to what they have done and establish a less distorted view of their actions. Studies (e.g. Harkins et al 2010) suggest that reduced risk of reoffending (as acceptance of ones crimes is thought to an important aspect of rehabilitation). This suggests that the theory of cognitive distortions has practical value.
• one limitation is the level of cognitive distortions depends on the type of offence 


  Howitt and Sheldon 2007 gathered questionnaire responses from sexual offenders. Contrary to what the researchers predicted, they found that non contact sex offenders (accessed sexual images on the internet) used more cognitive distortions than contact sex offenders (had physically abused children). Those who had a previous history of offending were also more likely to use distortions as a justification. This suggests that distortions are not used in the same way by all offenders.