🍒 Criminal Behaviour Individual Explanation- Cognitive Factors

Question 1

Cognitive Distortions – Definition & Role in Crime

Q: What are cognitive distortions, and how do they relate to criminal behaviour?

Answer 1

• Definition: Irrational thinking patterns that twist reality, leading to inaccurate perceptions.
• Role in Crime: Allow offenders to deny or rationalize their actions (e.g., minimizing harm).

Question 2

Hostile Attribution Bias

Q: What is hostile attribution bias, and how does it link to aggression/crime?

Answer 2

• Definition: Tendency to interpret ambiguous actions as hostile (e.g., misreading a smile as mockery).
• Link to Crime: Increases aggression → higher likelihood of violent/retaliatory crimes.

Question 3

Minimalisation

Q: How does minimalisation explain criminal behaviour?

Answer 3

• Definition: Downplaying the severity of a crime (e.g., a burglar thinking theft “doesn’t hurt” a wealthy victim).
• Function: Reduces guilt, making crime easier to commit/repeat.
  E.g stealing from wealthy family.

Question 4

Kohlberg’s Moral Reasoning – Stages Overview

Q: What are Kohlberg’s three levels of moral reasoning?

Answer 4

Kolberg creates three levels of moral reasoning divided into two stages. People progress due to biological maturity and learning.
1. Pre-conventional: Avoid punishment/seeking rewards (e.g., children under 10).
2. Conventional: Follow laws to maintain social order/relationships.
3. Post-conventional: Personal ethics (only ~10% of adults reach this).

Question 5

Moral Reasoning & Crime – Pre-conventional Level

Q: Why are criminals often at the pre-conventional level?

Answer 5

• Justification: Crime is okay if rewards > costs or punishment is avoidable.
• Evidence: ~60% of 10-year-olds in Kohlberg’s study were at Stage 2 (self-interest).

Question 6

Moral Reasoning & Crime – Conventional Level

Q: How might conventional-level reasoning explain some crimes?

Answer 6

• Example: Breaking the law to protect family/friends (e.g., stealing to feed family).
• Kohlberg’s Findings: Most adults operate at this level.

Question 7

Age of Criminal Responsibility (England/Wales)

Q: How does Kohlberg’s theory explain the age of criminal responsibility (10 years)?

Answer 7

• Reason: Children under 10 lack moral responsibility (pre-conventional stage).
• Evidence: Only ~20% of 10-year-olds reached Stage 1 (obedience to avoid punishment).

Question 8

Key Study – Kohlberg (1969)

Q: What did Kohlberg’s longitudinal study reveal about moral reasoning?

Answer 8

• Most criminals at pre-conventional level.
• Only ~10% of adults reach post-conventional (ethics-based reasoning).

Question 9

Evaluation: Hostile Attribution Bias Support

Q: What research supports hostile attribution bias in offenders?

Answer 9

Schönenberg & Justye (2014): Violent offenders misinterpreted ambiguous faces as aggressive more than controls.
Evaluation:
✅ Shows cognitive bias → aggression.
❌ Small sample (55); artificial task (facial expressions ≠ real life).

Question 10

Evaluation: Minimalisation Evidence

Q: How does research demonstrate minimalisation in offenders?

Answer 10

Kennedy & Grubin (1992): Sex offenders blamed victims/denied crimes to reduce guilt.
Evaluation:
✅ Explains recidivism via self-justification.
❌ Not universal some take full accountability. (Maruna & Mann, 2006: “normal” self-protection behaviour, not specific to criminals).

Question 11

Evaluation: Moral Reasoning & Crime

Q: How does Gudjonsson & Sigurdsson (2007) link moral reasoning to crime?

Answer 11

38% of juvenile offenders ignored consequences (Stage 1), 36% feared no punishment (Stage 2).
Evaluation:
✅ Supports Kohlberg’s pre-conventional stage.
❌ Culturally biased; moral reasoning ≠ behavior (peer pressure matters).

Question 12

Evaluation: Kohlberg’s Theory Limitations

Q: What are two key flaws in Kohlberg’s theory?

Answer 12

1. Behaviour gap: Kolberg focuses more on more, thinking rather than behaviour. Krebs & Denton (2005) – People justify actions after acting.
2. Gender bias: Gilligan (1982) – Kohlberg studied only men, androcentric.Ignores “care-based” morality.
   Link: Useful but oversimplifies real-world decisions.

Question 13

Evaluation: Kohlberg’s Theory

Q: What are the strengths/limitations of Kohlberg’s moral reasoning theory?

Answer 13

✅ Strength: Supports age of criminal responsibility (biological maturity matters).
❌ Limitation: Cultural bias (Western focus on individualism vs. collectivist societies).

Question 14

Evaluation: Cognitive Distortions

Q: What are the strengths/limitations of cognitive distortions in explaining crime?

Answer 14

✅ Strength: Explains how offenders rationalize crimes (e.g., minimalisation in burglars).
❌ Limitation: Doesn’t explain non-aggressive crimes (e.g., fraud).