Forensic 3/3 Flashcards
(8 cards)
What is the cognitive approach to explaining offending
The cognitive approach sees offending as rooted in faulty thought patterns, such as biased interpretations, moral immaturity, and distorted justifications. Offenders may misread social cues, downplay guilt, or use pre-conventional moral reasoning—prioritising self-interest and rewards over ethical norms—making antisocial acts more likely.
How does layers of moral reasoning relate with offending?
Kohlberg (1969) proposed that moral reasoning develops through stages. Offenders often operate at the pre-conventional level, seeking to avoid punishment or gain rewards. Palmer & Hollin (1998) found offenders had significantly less mature moral reasoning than non-offenders, supporting the idea that moral immaturity contributes to criminality.
What is hostile attribution bias and minimilisation and how do they relate with offending?
Hostile attribution bias (HAB) involves perceiving neutral cues as threatening; Justye et al. (2014) found violent offenders saw neutral faces as hostile. Minimisation involves downplaying guilt—Pollock & Hashmall (1991) found many child sex offenders denied harm or responsibility. Both distortions enable offenders to rationalise antisocial acts.
What are the three main family dysfunction explanations to schizophrenia?
Schizophrenogenic Mother (Fromm-Reichmann): Cold, controlling, and rejecting parenting creates secrecy and tension, leading to paranoid delusions.
Double-Bind Theory (Bateson): Conflicting messages + punishment → confusion, disorganised thinking, paranoid delusions.
Expressed Emotion (EE): High levels of criticism, hostility, and emotional over-involvement increase relapse risk and may trigger SZ in vulnerable individuals.
What is meant by dysfunctional thought processes in as?
SZ symptoms stem from abnormal cognition.
* Metarepresentation (Frith et al.): Disruption → misattributed thoughts = hallucinations and delusions.
* Central Control: Inability to suppress automatic responses → derailment of thought, disorganised speech.
* Dysfunction shown via underactivity in the ventral striatum (avolition) and temporal gyri (hallucinations).
What are parasocial relationships and how are they defined?
Parasocial relationships are one-sided, unreciprocated bonds where a person invests emotional energy, time, and commitment in a celebrity who is unaware of their existence. McCutcheon et al. (2002) identified three levels using the Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS):
Entertainment-social – Least intense. Celebrities are seen as entertainment and fuel for social interaction (e.g., gossip, small talk).
Intense-personal – Intermediate. Involves obsessive thoughts and intense emotional investment (e.g., seeing a celebrity as a soulmate).
Borderline-pathological – Strongest. Involves uncontrollable fantasies and extreme behaviours (e.g., stalking, illegal acts).
What is the absorption addiction model of parasocial relationships?
Proposed by McCutcheon (2002), the model suggests parasocial relationships form due to personal deficiencies (e.g., low self-esteem, poor real-life relationships).
Absorption involves becoming preoccupied with a celebrity to gain fulfilment and escape reality.
Addiction refers to the need for stronger involvement, often through more extreme behaviours (e.g., believing the celebrity wants to meet them).
This explains how admiration can escalate into unhealthy obsession to maintain the illusion of closeness.
How does attachment theory explain parasocial relationships?
Attachment theory suggests early attachment patterns influence later relationships. Insecure-resistant individuals are most likely to form parasocial bonds as they desire intimacy but fear rejection. Parasocial relationships offer a ‘safe’ bond with no risk of rejection or criticism.
McCutcheon et al. (2006), however, found no significant link between attachment type and likelihood of forming a parasocial bond, suggesting the explanation may lack universal support.
