cognitive explanation

• level of moral reasoning

  • kohlberg proposed that peoples decisions and judgements on what is right and wrong can be summarised in stages of moral development - the higher the stage ,the more sophisticated the reasoning
  • criminals tend to show lower levels of moral reasoning
  • theory based on responses to moral dilemmas, like the heinz dilemma
• kohlbergs model and criminality

  • offenders more likely to be classed at the pre-conventional level, whereas non-criminals progressed to conventional and beyond
  • pre-conventional - need to avoid punishment and gain reward - associated with less mature, childlike reasoning - thus, adults who reason at this level might commit crime if they can get away with it or gain rewards like money and respect
  • those who reason at higher levels tend to sympathise more with the rights of others
• preconventional

  stage 1 - punishment orientation

  stage 2 - personal gain

  conventional

  stage 3 - approval

  stage 4 - maintenance of social order

  postconventional

  stage 5 - individual rights

  stage 6 - morality of conscience - establishes own rules
• cognitive distortions

  • errors or biases in info processing
  • linked to the way criminals interpret the behaviour of others and justify their own actions
• hostile attribution bias

  • misinterpret actions of others - assume they are being confrontational when they are not
  • may misread non-aggressive cues which may trigger disproportionate, often violent, responses
  • schonenberg presented 55 violent offenders with images of emotionally ambiguous facial expressions - compared with control, violent offenders were significantly more likely to perceive images as angry and hostile
• minimalisation

  • attempt to downplay or deny seriousness of an offence - using 'euphemistic labels' - e.g. they might say they are doing a job or supporting the family as a way of minimising seriousness
  • 35% of a sample of child molesters said their crime was non-sexual, just affectionate, and 36% said the victim consented
• W - descriptive not explanatory

  • whilst its good at describing the criminal mind it is less successful when it comes to explaining it
  • its an after the fact theory and although it might be useful when predicting reoffending, tends not to give much insight into why crime was committed in first place
• S - real life application

  • CBT aims to challenge irrational thinking
  • in case of offending, they are encouraged to face up to what they have done and establish a less distorted view of their actions
  • studies suggest that reducing denial and minimalisation in therapy is highly associated with reduced risk of reoffending
  • suggests the theory of cognitive distortions has practical value